Is this normal? I really hope it isn't!

[ViolentDelights]

Started a new job at a secondary school (I'm not a teacher and have never worked in school before for full disclosure). A few things have gone on that I'm uncomfortable with but I'm not sure if it's me or them who are bu!

A teacher chewed gum throughout two lessons (that I saw).

Overheard multiple teachers referring to children as "stupid" and "div" (not in the children's presence thankfully) but one teacher repeatedly and audibly pointed out problem children to me in full view of everyone.

Teachers and support staff were lax regarding safeguarding, letting visitors (without dbs checks) wander the corridors at break and lunch because there was no organisation regarding who was responsible for the visitors.

No homework has been set in one particular department for a long time due to (according to teachers) a lack of leadership as there is no head of department and therefore there is no guidance regarding chasing uncompleted homework.

The school is very run down and grubby with damaged fixtures and fittings. While there may not be much that can be done about this, the stuff that could be fixed such as brighter classrooms - interesting displays etc just hadn't been done. Every classroom is almost bare.

I feel really sorry for the kids in this school.

[Donki]

Definitely not normal

[TheFifthKey]

They will definitely fail Ofsted with no visitor procedure - I've known a school not let an experienced teacher who had come straight from another school teach without another adult in the room because her DBS wasn't back yet - there was no doubt at all she was clear (as had a previous certificate) but still, she had to be accompanied everywhere until it came back. Definitely not strangers wandering corridors!

[Ojoj1974]

It sounds like there is a general lack of enthusiasm and care within the school. You are so right that the class rooms could be cheered up with new and exciting displays of the children's work and surely all the children could get involved in a huge cleaning project . I've seen that in China the kids clean the school everyday so surely we could do it once a week in the U.K.?
Have you spoken to the head?

[Iamastonished]

What is the latest ofsted report for this school? This is seriously lax. I know that education is hugely underfunded, but it sounds like the ethos of the school is so very wrong

[ViolentDelights]

Latest ofsted is "requires improvement" and there has been a new head and deputy head since the beginning of the academic year.

Something else which caught my attention is that spelling and grammar (including sentences that just don't work) is not highlighted to pupils when their work is marked - apparently policy is to only correct the first couple of mistakes. Can't help but feel the student who wrote a very good essay but misspelled allusion as illusion (thus confusing the meaning of their point) could have done with some feedback which they didn't receive because of this policy - this is surely an example of an easy fix which could help the student in future?