To think disruptive behaviour in schools is out of hand?

Right so we can confirm that independent schools aren't just indiscriminately drugging pupils then.

My point was The Times has a bias, the Guardian has a bias. It’s not just your opinion that’s the right opinion.

so it’s not private schools drugging kids anymore, but doctors prescribing medication. Ok.

LMAO at that 🤣
So The Grauniad is the single source of truth? The Times is a well respected paper with quality journalists. Just because it doesn't fit your world view doesn't mean it's not reporting facts or the truth.

We are all fucked if the Graunisd is the only paper we are supposed to rely on!

@Absentosaur

But similarly, you have to acknowledge your publication of choice has bias too!

And this is all good.
Creativity and talent should be allowed to shine regardless of parental input financial or otherwise.

There's nothing wrong with people with ADHD taking ADHD medication, whether they were diagnosed privately or NHS. However, a very big part (pretty much the point) of stimulants is to reduce hyperactivity, drastically increase focus and therefore the vast majority of children with ADHD who have access to medication will be able to churn out (much, much) more schoolwork than they were without stimulants.

Imagine Child A who is undiagnosed ADHD in state mainstream with poor parents and certain ADHD behaviours like shouting out in class, getting out of seat, impulsive swearing etc. Then imagine Child B who is undiagnosed in private mainstream with ADHD behaviours which won't get them kicked out immediately like fidgeting, daydreaming etc. Child A is told they're probably just crap at life, maybe they'll get put on a 4 year ADHD assessment waiting list, they'll get repeatedly suspended from school. Child B will have a private ADHD assessment in weeks or months, get access to medication, and then, yes, churn out work. Good for them if it's what they want and need and the side effects are not too bad for them.

But then everyone will say, "oh look how well private schools work".

www.theguardian.com/education/2022/apr/07/england-state-school-pupils-as-happy-with-life-as-private-school-peers-survey

I just said bet it's not unheard of

Which isn't a "serious accusation" - more of a "I really wouldn't be shocked if it came out in a Panorama documentary"

www.theguardian.com/education/2024/nov/21/private-and-state-school-pupils-gcse-results-are-now-the-same-study-finds

It’s so frustrating.

I think our culture towards learning has suffered and now more parents don’t believe in education, and so they pass down this belief to their kids.

A friend told me that they moved their DD to another school and that school encourages learning, but it’s not just the teachers, it’s the students. They want to learn, it’s cool to learn and join clubs. And we need to find a way to engage parents and children in education so that they have more respect for it.

My SEN child would bloody love it. For them rules are to be followed, and they get really upset when people don’t.

Does it make any difference where the data comes from? I think everyone commenting says it rings true!

Here's a comparison (admittedly a few years ago but I don't have access to get a newer one) of GCSE subjects offered at Michaela and a couple of other schools nearby.

But that's not what you originally said. You said you thought independent schools were drugging pupils. That's a serious accusation.

Drug taking can be rife in ALL secondary schools.

I think this used to be the case with PRUs and APs but not so much anymore…They are more full for a start with much larger classes (as there are more exclusions from mainstreams and a huge focus on attendance and they also take in a lot of the increasing number of EBSA kids and those with anxieties and ASD who have anxieties about mainstream.) Often these students still expect GCSEs and the expectations much higher than a decade ago.

Not as much pressure with Progress 8 - but the sense of entitlement to GCSE passes and expecting work and grades given is not like it was for me in the 00s when I was in PRUs - so I’m told by ex colleagues. If state maintained PRU they still need National Curriculum and still need GCSE (but with Functional skills offered as a pathway.) However, I’m told many students no longer recognize they cannot access GCSE work and expect the GCSE paper to be the same level of work they encounter in day to day lesson with lots of close exercises, word searches and writing frames - and don’t understand they are required to produce and provide a sustained written response. Interesting as I met with friends yesterday and we spoke about this!

Honestly people need to stop with blaming covid for every wrong in the world. Grown adults have become increasingly entitled which manifests in all areas of their lives, including their children. At the same time people are increasingly trying to blame other people for their complete lack of accountability and total refusal to inconvenience themselves.

I agree completely, the support should start antenatally. The first three years are the most important for development thats when a robust support system needs to be in place. I was a big advocate of the children’s centres but I’m not sure they were given long enough to really see results.
what’s very clear is the current system of getting children in childcare as soon as possible is not solving any problems re children being ‘school ready’ in fact arguably it’s got worse.

I’d say it’s 50% down to demographic and 50% down to good school leadership. I teach at a very large (1800 pupil) state secondary in a suburban area of East Anglia. Disruptive kids are in the minority and are subject to sanctions, plus they tend to be moved into calmer classes where they don’t have such an appreciative ‘audience’ - it’s amazing how quickly that calms things down. I taught years 7 and 9 today and each lesson was calm, focused and productive.

Five miles down the road in town, teachers were striking last year because they felt unsafe due to pupil behaviour and let down by school leadership.

Sure, we still moan about pupil behaviour, but I don’t think that everywhere is falling apart.

I sent my child to a private school, and yes the behaviour was better than what I hear about from her friends who went to state schools. But I would not have sent her to Michaela if you paid me. The draconian discipline is bad enough but also there is a lot of rote learning, an extremely limited curriculum and no creative subjects or PE at GCSE.

Although the better behaviour was a bonus, what I actually wanted and got from the private school was a really wide ranging curriculum, loads of creative and other co-curricular opportunities and a relaxed environment with as few rules and regulations as possible.

DD thrived. Michaela would probably have broken her.

I actually think the petty rules and regulations that exist at a lot of comprehensives that are less strict than Michaela make pupils disengage. My friends' children (who are largely bright and conscientious) seemed to get detentions and punishments for the most ridiculous things. The stupid rules about when you can wear a coat, what colour your socks are, being punished for things outside your control, are just awful for children. If you are going to get into trouble whatever you do, why be good?

You mean it’s not even included in the school fees?