Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
GaspingGekko · 09/07/2024 08:14

My children's school is like this. But I'm another poster who's not in the UK.

It's honestly depressing to hear about what is considered normal rules in England. Here there are real relationships between teachers and students, children are engaged in the lessons, there is trust and community with parents and school.

OP I really hope that this works out for your DCs school.

stickygotstuck · 09/07/2024 08:09

Sounds great. Hopefully a hugely positive change for ND children especially.

My school (not UK) was very much like this, except for no uniform at all. It wasn't unusual or experimental, it was the norm.

I would be very interested in a update in a year's time or so, @mina879

HelpMeGetThrough · 09/07/2024 08:05

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

Looks great on paper, I think the reality will be very different.

Needmorelego · 09/07/2024 08:03

@MrsTartanTeacosy I would assume it means the toilets will be available for use throughout the whole school day rather than locked for most of it.

NotRightNowPlease · 09/07/2024 08:02

MrsTartanTeacosy · 09/07/2024 07:59

Okay, I’m clearly the one that’s going to have to ask - how does no locks in toilets work???

I think meaning the students will have access rather than an allocated few minutes use.

gingeristhenewblack43 · 09/07/2024 08:01

MrsTartanTeacosy · 09/07/2024 07:59

Okay, I’m clearly the one that’s going to have to ask - how does no locks in toilets work???

I think OP means the toilets aren't locked to prevent kids meeting up in there, rather than the cubicles have no locks.

MrsTartanTeacosy · 09/07/2024 07:59

Okay, I’m clearly the one that’s going to have to ask - how does no locks in toilets work???

Ineffable23 · 09/07/2024 07:52

I mean "second chance activities" and "homework club" both sound like detention by another name. But equally it's more of a natural consequences approach - didn't do your homework, have to spend free time doing homework.

I really hope it works out OP, it sounds like a good approach. My old school used to have detentions etc but it was only very few people who received them and most people were broadly well behaved. It meant it was mainly a nice environment to be in.

2dogsandabudgie · 09/07/2024 07:45

mina879 · 08/07/2024 23:00

They have to do homework club during break.

Show quote history

So that is really detention then but it's called "homework club" instead.

Original poster
mina879 · 09/07/2024 00:02

Needmorelego · 08/07/2024 23:57

Sounds fantastic.
I hope it goes well.

Thanks a lot :)

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 08/07/2024 23:57

Sounds fantastic.
I hope it goes well.

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 23:54

lazzapazza · 08/07/2024 23:33

How the fuck did that oxygen thief get the job? There needs to be some amount of discipline or it will be chaos.

Easing of the uniform is a good idea however.

Edited

Gosh what a horrible post. Some people need to think before they press post.

She is very well-esteemed, and all the schools she has reformed have got better test results, less exclusions and happier students.

OP posts:
MulberryBushRoundabout · 08/07/2024 23:35

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.

God it’s so sad that this is ground breaking!

Marblessolveeverything · 08/07/2024 23:34

I am in Ireland this is our long lived norm.

No uniform respect to and from all school community no shouting. No ridiculous toilet rules and they haven't imploded. I actually feel ill reading the school rules on here sometimes.

Children doing well pleasant environment to visit and exam results excellent. I can clearly see great relationships across the school as being the priority.

They are regularly told how exams are one access point to success but being a decent functioning human is their priority. I know it obviously takes considerable work by the school team.

lazzapazza · 08/07/2024 23:33

How the fuck did that oxygen thief get the job? There needs to be some amount of discipline or it will be chaos.

Easing of the uniform is a good idea however.

Original poster
mina879 · 08/07/2024 23:17

Twodozenroses · 08/07/2024 23:09

I like the sound of it. We had uniform like that in secondary and it still has it now- polo shirt, jumper and trousers. Although I don’t think it has great behaviour but that’s not linked to the uniform. The kids look much comfort than the kids in my sons school and other schools near here with blazers ties and shirts

It is far better - I agree.

OP posts:
Twodozenroses · 08/07/2024 23:09

I like the sound of it. We had uniform like that in secondary and it still has it now- polo shirt, jumper and trousers. Although I don’t think it has great behaviour but that’s not linked to the uniform. The kids look much comfort than the kids in my sons school and other schools near here with blazers ties and shirts

UndertheCedartree · 08/07/2024 23:08

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

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:
downhere · 08/07/2024 23:05

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

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.

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:
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.

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.

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:
Swipe left for the next trending thread