Do your kids like going to school?

Of course they’re not being bloody screamed at. Kids are dramatic, irrational and have no life experience. They’re fine. I’ll never stop being amused by how much credence posters on here give the ‘feelings’ of 12 year olds.

lockdown was her favourite part of primary school

She sounds extremely introverted

My DD (12, year 7) and all her friends constantly talk about how much they hate school and most the teachers. Think they are all struggling with how strict and serious it all is, all of the time. Especially straight after year 6 when they were all made really stressed and anxious about SATs.

Apparently a lot of them get 'screamed at' a lot and most of the time it is for absolutely ridiculous things.

I don't think it's dramatic. I think it's a really important point.

I think primary schools in the UK are usually really great nowadays. Secondary school is just so different and we have huge issues with teenage mental health. I feel schools are in a difficult position. They are trying to tackle poor behaviour which I understand but they are often becoming so strict, it creates an awful relationship between the pupil and the school. The pupil basically ends up feeling that they are constantly being told off or caught out for very minor infringements of rules. At my DC's school, they get a detention if they're not showing five stripes on their tie or something like that! In comparison, primary school is so warm and welcoming. The contrast is stark.

Wow yeah. ‘School is worse than prison’ dramatic AND naïve much??

I think 100% of kids from happy homes would prefer to be at home than at school, don’t you think?

My 2 love it but they’re year 1 and year 4. I do get some complaints from the oldest but very minimal and he always goes in and comes out happy. And obviously more reluctant after a school holiday.

Are you considering homeschool then? Obviously you DO have to ‘make’ her go to school. It’s a legal requirement as you know. Even if you were homeschooling you’d still have to make her do stuff and then would have no/less separation between school and home.

Mine is in year 11 and has never hated it, he'd probably prefer not to go and just do what he wants all day but he's never made a fuss about going in. He's almost done now though anyway.

I feel the same way about work to be honest!

My 11 year old has never liked school. She cried going in up to the end of Year 1. Now in Year 6 she understands she has to go so just gets on with it, but she counts down until the next school holiday. For the leavers assembly she has to write about her favourite time during her primary school. She started to write about Year 2, when Boris told everyone "You must stay at home" and she had a lovely summer at home, being taught by me and playing in the garden. Of course her teacher told her off and said no, it must be something you actually did at school. She was just being honest though, bless her - lockdown was her favourite part of primary school! It's also an 'outstanding' school and oversubscribed.

Dramatic much

That's interesting.

My dd went to a mixed sex primary school but we chose a girls school for secondary. The first week she started there she said to me that she found it so much easier to concentrate without boys mucking around.

It could be a phase. I remember times when I didn't want to go, and times when I couldn’t wait to go.

Most people have no choice other than to send their child to the closest local school, though.

If you have the luxury of choice or the financial ability to move around then you're incredibly fortunate.

Young family members, both at high school, one loves every minute, other hates every minute! Both doing well though….

Primary kids love school because there is more play and less rules. Once they hit SATs and secondary, they realise it is all shit and a trap which they can't opt out of.

No wonder teens are so depressed. School is worse than prison. My son and daughter HATED secondary school. Nasty exam factories.

DS has always hated it - now S4 (age 15)
DD has always loved it - now P7 (age 11)

All kids are different.

Mine loves senior school. He was utterly miserable, bored and isolated at Juniors.

I think it comes down to the school and how they organise activities. And the general approach to teaching.

My 5 year old loves school. She’s very sociable and loves being around other children her own age, she’s really not a hang-off-mums-legs type of kids. She has enjoyed the holidays but is more than ready to go back today.

DD1 (12, Yr8) generally enjoys school. Not every lesson, but overall.

DD2 (11, Yr6) loved school... until 2020. Then the lockdown hokey cokey made it all confusing and she never really settled back.
She is looking forward to a fresh start in September with new people. But is worried about still having no friends.

Exact same situation here. My child (16) loathes it. If the other pupils were well behaved they’d love it. Lack of discipline is destroying the school experience - and mental health - of so many young people.

Mine love school. They have excellent teachers, great facilities, learn interesting and varied subjects, lots of sports and playtime.

I hated my school was determined that I wouldn’t blight my children’s’ childhood as mine was

My 13 year old has never particularly liked going to school, she'll never say she enjoys it, but she doesn't like having to miss it when she's ill and won't even consider taking a day off to go somewhere with me, but I think that's more because she doesn't want to fall behind and have to catch up.

DS really enjoys his time at school, has loads of friends and is happy there. However he will always say he would rather be at home.

It's worth chatting to her. Is there something that she really doesn't like/is upsetting her? Or would she just rather be at home playing with her friend.

The first needs investigating and supporting and a chat with the teacher, the second acknowledging, encouraging about the good stuff etc etc

I’ve got 3 children, two are adults now and youngest is 16. Middle child loved school, very sociable, oldest less so and youngest hates it. All very academic though, top grades. My DD is struggling with A level choices and I said pick the ones you like the most as she’s predicted all 8’s and 9’s so is an all rounder and she said ‘I don’t like any’. She’s very shy too so I think she finds school quite over whelming and I’m hoping 6th form will be easier for her as those not wanting to be in class and mess around constantly will be gone

Me me is ten and only just starting to prefer weekends to school days. Even still he does enjoy a lot of what they do at school. I’m constantly impressed by his primary school. It’s just our local, not one we specifically chose for being excellent but it is such a caring inclusive community and the staff are excellent.

My DD generally hated school. It got worse and worse, then took them out in Y8 to attend online school and they flourished (ASD, PDA, ADHD). It took a few years for them to recover and it was the best thing I ever did.

I loved school as a kid though! I even used to hate being off ill.