DD14 school rules+uniform changes?

In theory sounds great. Previous rules make it sound like a prison! I don't remember any of this crap when I was at school.

I’m also in Scotland and the school rules in a lot of English schools amaze me. My teen son goes to a mixed intake large state school, rocks up in PE kit more often than not, I suspect is late for registration frequently (I leave for work before he leaves for school), can definitely be a bit of a chatterbox
and would forgot his head if it wasn’t attached to his neck. Despite all this he is doing very well at school, his teachers seem to like him, and has never had a single detention or phone call home. I genuinely have no idea how he would cope let alone flourish in one of these prison camp schools.

We would have liked DC to go to one like this, if we could have afforded it.
But surely, it says a lot that there are parents happy to pay (rather a lot of money presumably) for precisely this approach.

I do believe most if not all children can raise up to a challenge, and do not share other PPs' view that it will become feral and it depends on the cohort. Children, and especially those from a more challenging background, need someone to have faith in them.

Can I ask, why was Ofsted so scathing?

It's so nice to hear that a school is being progressive and actually thinking about the needs of children and yet it's met with criticism?! You can please everyone.
Personally I think your child is fortunate.

I think this sounds really positive. Obviously it will need skilful implementation, but definitely a step in the right direction.
I look forward to seeing the updates.

Sounds great and how schools in the rest of Europe seem to operate rather than the ultra strict nearly military style popular over here.

DS would love more PE!

Can someone explain the no toilet locking thing to me in idiot terms please?

Sounds like my DDs school, it's a good school with good exam results. They give the impression of really caring about the students welfare and it shows because they have very low incidence of bullying and bad behaviour and the kids all seem "nice", obviously there are issues like in all schools and they have had to bring in new toilet rules because of skiving/mess but on the whole I'm much happier that she's in an environment like that instead of a school that feels like a prison camp.
Also be pleased with the uniform changes so much cheaper and easier to wash, and trainers are much healthier for growing feet!

ohhhhhh, this makes so much more sense!! I thought they were getting rid of the locks on the cubicles and was rather alarmed.

We chose a school like this - when we move with eldest in Y6 - very good pastoral care. They ran like an internal unit for the disruptive kids with aim to get them back to normal lessons- and had a few very notable positive stories and was rewriting it previous poor reputation.

Then they had an inspection while DD1 was there - exam results were massively up students were happy parents were happy - inspectors weren't they wanted more internal monitoring and complained the bottom students while improving were improving fast enough. Year later the same - so that head left - and then they massively struggled to recruit a head.

It did get out of special measures - mainly I think because it was embarrassing how long it had been in - the report was scathing and mainly it got out due to better internal monitoring - the exam results are still shockingly low.

DD2 struggles - toilet don't really exist in school day - at one point they couldn't eat anywhere though that's got better - slightest thing seems to generate a detention or with DD2 very well behaved demerits for class behavior, internal and external communication is dire and class behaviour even in top sets is appalling and DD2 struggles there and now with DD2 last child coming up to Y11 there talk of changing uniform and making them have blazers.

So I'd having experienced the opposite way - I'd keep an open mind but would I think be pleased.

The school don't want girls wearing skirts because they roll them up so short or the other kids lift them up. Trousers are much better for girls and smart shorts for all in warm weather.

Sounds amazing!!!! I would be really happy. Much better than the sweat the small stuff approach our local academy is taking.

A school local to me was very like the school your DDs daughter is changing to.
It had a terrible reputation, results were bad, no teacher retention, fights, Police attending regularly etc etc.
A new Head changed it to the type of school your DDs sounds like now and really turned it around
I would not be happy about those changes at all but I suppose time will tell

Its a bit late notice for a major uniform change really. Will they be allowed to wear their old uniforms for a bit?

How do you get the attention of a room full of rowdy teenagers without shouting?

I guess you have to wait and see how the children respond, they may be good as gold or they may take advantage of more relaxed rules and be a nightmare..

@FeatherBoas there is a big difference in a loud clear firm voice and shouting.
Shouting should only be used in an emergency (like "fire - everyone out").

@PuttingDownRoots I'm sure most pupils will be glad to not have to wear a tie and blazer and will have no desire to carry on wearing them.
Unless they're like Will from The Inbetweeners 😂

You do realise if their parents have already bought shirts, skirts and blazer they might not have money for polo's, trousers and jumpers?

@PuttingDownRoots that's true but if unworn they could be returned maybe?
Surely school specific items like the tie and blazer will have stopped being sold.
Most people won't have bought next years yet and I assume the parents of incoming Year 7s will be aware of this new uniform.
The skirts issue....this is something that those who wear skirts have to prove they can wear them sensibly. If lots of pupils still want to wear them they should get together and talk to the head - but agree they are worn in a decent length and any pupils who can't follow that rule loses the choice to wear them.
Parents could also ask if shirts rather than Polos can be worn until outgrown.
The only thing that parents could have potentially have bought in advance that's changing is shirts and skirts.

I would totally have been like Will from the Inbetweeners! I'd have been turning up in tie and blazer and challenging it if I got in trouble for wearing traditional uniform and being too smart.

Given that in 1993 we had a vote in our school and voted to keep blazers and make them compulsory I don't think I'd have been the only one

Shorts don’t seem to be on the list though.
We have a local girls school and they can make a choice. Nearly all choose skirts.

My sons school brought in similar changes years ago, now it's a complete mess. No discipline, disrupted lessons, kids wear whatever they want, etc. A new head just started and reversed a lot of those changes in the hope to turn the school around again!
Not saying that it can't work, but it needs to be done properly with good leadership.

Sounds lovely but unfortunately it will soon be a feral mess where kids control the classrooms and no one can learn anything.

Don’t worry. The parents will be assured that this will never happen.
😉😁😁

Our secondary has uniforms like this thank God - WTF is the point of blazers and all that crap for school?