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Original poster

DD14 school rules+uniform changes?

117 replies

mina879 · 08/07/2024 22:39

DD14's school has got a new head who is apparently making big changes...

The new uniform:
School sweatshirt
School polo shirt
School black trousers
School shoes or plain black trainers or plain black canvas shoes
No heels or boots

The old uniform:
School blazer
School shirt and tie
Black trousers/skirt
Leather school shoes
No trainers canvas shoes heels or boots

They're also apparently getting rid of detentions, toilet locking, isolations and stuff like that.

Apparently the school will be a 'pleasant and relaxing experience for everyone involved.'

The academy trust also did this to a school up north which apparently had only 1 permanent exclusion in a year after this compared to the 20 they had before!

DD said that they just had an assembly on it - there is a designated wall-attached phone worried students can call home from, teachers are no longer allowed to shout at kids, they now have vape alarms, no more prefects, and there is a 7 min break for using the toilet, water fountains, etcetera, they will now serve lunches made on the premises daily and PE will be thrice weekly!

Most of these changes are starting in September - but detentions, toilet locking, isolations, teachers shouting at students are already outlawed.

Assemblies for non-important matters such as say a competition or odd sock day are optional too!

I'm just curious what your thoughts on this are...

OP posts:
DappledThings · 08/07/2024 22:41

When I was 14 I would have been gutted at the uniform changes

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 22:42

DappledThings · 08/07/2024 22:41

When I was 14 I would have been gutted at the uniform changes

Haha most of the kids aren't excited about that - in the brochure they sent us it's to keep kids comfy apparently?

OP posts:
cansu · 08/07/2024 22:44

Sounds lovely but unfortunately it will soon be a feral mess where kids control the classrooms and no one can learn anything. Good luck. I should also add that lots of teachers will leave. Check out who leaves at Xmas for signs about how well it is going.

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 22:44

whoops it posted it in the wrong context

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 08/07/2024 22:45

The academy trust also did this to a school up north which apparently had only 1 permanent exclusion in a year after this compared to the 20 they had before!

Isn't that because they've "banned" all detentions/isolations etc?

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 22:46

cansu · 08/07/2024 22:44

Sounds lovely but unfortunately it will soon be a feral mess where kids control the classrooms and no one can learn anything. Good luck. I should also add that lots of teachers will leave. Check out who leaves at Xmas for signs about how well it is going.

Apparently both students and teachers loved the school up north and say it's an improvement... I will update at the end of september.

DD said it's already nicer since they had a very shouty teacher who couldn't shout for the whole lesson and apparently it was much better then him shouting.

OP posts:
Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 22:47

SoupDragon · 08/07/2024 22:45

The academy trust also did this to a school up north which apparently had only 1 permanent exclusion in a year after this compared to the 20 they had before!

Isn't that because they've "banned" all detentions/isolations etc?

No, because they can still exclude, just it has to be outside the school, so no isolation or detentions.

OP posts:
CrushingOnRubies · 08/07/2024 22:48

Following because I want to know what the verdict of you and your daughter is at Christmas.

Sounds great on paper but in reality not sure

fashionqueen0123 · 08/07/2024 22:49

I’d not have been happy about being made to wear trousers. Why can’t they wear a skirt? Polo shirt fine!

I think some schools seem to go over the top with detentions etc but this seems to be a bit unrealistic. How will they deal with bad behaviour- what is the new policy?

Talipesmum · 08/07/2024 22:49

If it’s run well, it could be fantastic. If it’s run poorly, it’ll be awful. I’d wait and see how it feels in practice.

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 22:49

CrushingOnRubies · 08/07/2024 22:48

Following because I want to know what the verdict of you and your daughter is at Christmas.

Sounds great on paper but in reality not sure

I hope it'll be like the school up north which apparently is now overbooked and they have waiting lists since the results are so fantastic.

Surprised me too - I thought it would be too anarchic.

OP posts:
Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 22:51

fashionqueen0123 · 08/07/2024 22:49

I’d not have been happy about being made to wear trousers. Why can’t they wear a skirt? Polo shirt fine!

I think some schools seem to go over the top with detentions etc but this seems to be a bit unrealistic. How will they deal with bad behaviour- what is the new policy?

They have to wear trousers since skirts are being rolled up and allegations which were found to be false using CCTV footage have already been made 2 years ago.

It's also an equality thing too apparently.

OP posts:
MulberryBushRoundabout · 08/07/2024 22:51

Could be fantastic, will be interesting to see what happens. It feels like secondary leadership has got stuck in a cycle of just getting harder and harder on kids, I’m glad to see there are some Heads who are willing to try a different approach.

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 22:52

MulberryBushRoundabout · 08/07/2024 22:51

Could be fantastic, will be interesting to see what happens. It feels like secondary leadership has got stuck in a cycle of just getting harder and harder on kids, I’m glad to see there are some Heads who are willing to try a different approach.

:) I hope it'll all go well!

DD hated the detentions and isolations - hopefully this will be better!

OP posts:
2dogsandabudgie · 08/07/2024 22:55

What is the new policy on behaviour? What happens if a student is rude to a teacher or disruptive?

2dogsandabudgie · 08/07/2024 22:57

What happens if they don't complete homework?

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 23:00

2dogsandabudgie · 08/07/2024 22:55

What is the new policy on behaviour? What happens if a student is rude to a teacher or disruptive?

They lose an activity point, which is basically points kids can trade in to get nice things.

If they lose too many, they have to do 'second-chance activities' where they have to write a sorry, litter pick or something like that during break.

Then if there is a big problem with behaviour - teacher meetings and external exclusions much like in a normal secondary school.

OP posts:
Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 23:00

2dogsandabudgie · 08/07/2024 22:57

What happens if they don't complete homework?

They have to do homework club during break.

OP posts:
jockeywilsonsaid · 08/07/2024 23:01

I love this idea in theory. I'd love to know what their behaviour policies are. I agree with a PP who said that schools seem to have got into a cycle of getting harder and harder on kids. My DCs school got a new head this year and they've been asserting their power by cracking down on minor uniform infractions that were ignored previously. It's not gone down well.

I'm curious to hear your feedback after it's been in place for a few months, OP.

FluffyDiplodocus · 08/07/2024 23:02

As a secondary teacher I’d support the uniform change. I’m a bit skeptical about the rest though, sounds a bit too idealistic! The toilet unlocking I know is a thing people feel strongly about on here, but I’m just thinking of the vaping, truancy and vandalism we’ve had previously!

I sort of like the phone idea because it would stop kids having an excuse to use mobiles / take pressure away from crazy busy pastoral staff. If they’re going to contact home anyway, an alternative isn’t a bad idea.

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 23:04

FluffyDiplodocus · 08/07/2024 23:02

As a secondary teacher I’d support the uniform change. I’m a bit skeptical about the rest though, sounds a bit too idealistic! The toilet unlocking I know is a thing people feel strongly about on here, but I’m just thinking of the vaping, truancy and vandalism we’ve had previously!

I sort of like the phone idea because it would stop kids having an excuse to use mobiles / take pressure away from crazy busy pastoral staff. If they’re going to contact home anyway, an alternative isn’t a bad idea.

The loos will apparently now have vape and loud noise detectors - there is also a 'surrender vape' box at the loo entrance - DD says there's already like 6 vapes in there.

They have a different attitude to truancy - no one is able to force you to learn, so they try and make the lessons so nice kids will actively want to be in them.

OP posts:
WelshWannabe · 08/07/2024 23:04

Sounds a lot like my kids school. (Except, we're not in the uk)

Lots of people move to this area for this school. The majority of kids love school. The behaviour has improved a lot. Results have got better. The kids are given more autonomy over their education where possible.

No detentions, no homework, comfortable uniform. Long standing teachers.

Suspensions are still used when absolutely necessary.

downhere · 08/07/2024 23:05

Why does it feel like this can’t possibly be real in this day and age!

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 23:05

WelshWannabe · 08/07/2024 23:04

Sounds a lot like my kids school. (Except, we're not in the uk)

Lots of people move to this area for this school. The majority of kids love school. The behaviour has improved a lot. Results have got better. The kids are given more autonomy over their education where possible.

No detentions, no homework, comfortable uniform. Long standing teachers.

Suspensions are still used when absolutely necessary.

Sounds great :)

OP posts:
UndertheCedartree · 08/07/2024 23:08

Sounds great. Similar to my DD's school. It is a very calm and well behaved school.