One Thing That Your DCs School Does That Should Be Done By Every School?

What a fascinating educational site. I agree with almost every suggestion made. And thats unusual. on Mumsnet

My sons' prep 4-13 has vertical groups based on school houses once a week which means all the young ones know some of the older boys. They do team projects as well so they all get used to working accross age groups and the older boys get some leadership experience. They also have year group tutoring.

There is a message box where the boys can leave a note for the teachers e.g. about bullying. I helped DS1 draft a note when he had a problem with one boy and it really made a difference to him that he could do something about the problem without having to directly approach a teacher (he was afraid of other people seeing). The note was acted on and the problem has now stopped.

Teachers who sometimes play football with the boys at break and organised snowman building when it snowed etc.

A dislike of vertical tutoring here. DS1 and DD both have experience of year group tutoring. They both preferred that. Vertical tutoring does nothing at all for 6th formers. School is going to do 6th form only forms now. If there is vertical tutoring it is very difficult for the older pupils to discuss matters in PDW as their experience is completely different from a Y7.

Let's you drop your DCs off at 8.35am meaning I can catch the 9.06am train.

Yep - vertical tutor groups work really well 11-14 comp

Also really great 'topic week' before each half term when the timetable is ripped up and they get to study China, health or 'thinking' or money etc for a week with input from each subject area bt in a fun way.

Ds's school had an allotment and an outdoor campfire area as well as a pond. I quite like that.

DS1 (12) starts a new High School tomorrow. I am so excited that there is Vertical Tutoring. He fears the big kids-so that should help massively.

Plus he will have a locker. After 9 months of lugging stuff from lesson to lesson.

Also there is a report bullying button on the website or they can fill in a form.

Not sure how they do it, but they have something called bullybusters who are children others can go to of there is a problem.
Also bullies seem to be dealt with quickly, put into ALE and on report, parents bought in etc.
There just seems to be an atmosphere that bullying is not tolerated.

Those of you who say the school deals with bullying well, can you expand on what they do please?

Secondary school - Vertical tutoring sceptical at first, but it has really worked. Both my DSes had friends from Yr7 to Yr11, and when DS1 was in year 11 the younger children in his form would seek him out if they had a problem or issue, to ask for help,or advice before going to a teacher. It really works IMVHO.

Both primary and secondary are very welcoming. Staff always speak in the corridors as you pass and seem to know all the children well.

See, I think 'keeping the same form teacher' has been a nightmare for ds. They just don't get on, and it's had a really negative affect on him over the last 2 - 3 years . (Also spilling into her subject area, which he's just given up trying in).
Generally my advice is that you aren't going to get on with everybody wherever you go in life, so you have to 'tolerate it' and not let it get to you, but I think it's the fact it's been such a long term thing that has ground him down. There will always be some teachers that "get" certain types of pupils and others that "get" other types of pupils - seems only fair to me to share the leurve. It really doesn't take that long to get to know a new class, when you are seeing them 3 times a day.

Comp school with house common rooms that the teachers also use during breaks etc which ensures no bullying and constant dialogue between pupils and staff. Although allocated a form teacher, if you get on better with another teacher, they are happy to give pastoral care.

Love having all the inset days together - what a fab idea!

Excellent Pastroral care, zero tolerance towards bullying - DD's Head of House told DD that she might not be able to wipe out bullying completely but she could most certainly make life difficult for the bullies.

Yr6 come for two weeks instead of a day - this is made possible by the fact new time table starts in July.

every school dc have currently attended: a firm and well thought through anti-bullying policy that engages the whole school

dc's current school: an excellent pastoral support programme

They have the best maths department in our area. Head of maths takes set 4 (DDs set) so each child has the best teacher possible.

Just wish they were as good with bullying

The enrichment programme my DS's school runs when GCSE's have finished. It includes a day each of personal finance, basic cooking, interview and presentation skills plus a day out and other days of helping with events in the lower school such as marshalling at cross country and helping on sports day.
Must remember to email my thanks to the teachers whose hard work makes this possible.

This is one of the best threads I have read here, thank you Blink for starting it.

As a secondary teacher I am looking very carefully at the responses.

Senior school - high expectations of behaviour and modelled by all staff - saw Head picking up litter the other day. In spite of over 1000 pupils in school, the Head seems to know them all by name.

Strict uniform code, that is enforced. Anyone flouting it is sent to Student Services to put on spare uniform. They also hold a nice line of £3 Primark plimsolls for anyone wearing banned footwear.

The school was failing a while back and the SLT say that cracking down on low level bad behaviour and discipline have been fundamental in changing the school.
.

Mixed state secondary:
Communicate via email including msgs telling us when DDs have tests they should be revising for!
Welcoming emails from parents & promptly replying. publishing all teachers email addresses on website.
Teaching all pupils how to play a keyboard in yr 7.
Expecting good manners from pupils.

Yes, DCs' headmaster does all of the that Energy
He also writes lovely letters to the dcs he has been on trips with saying how much he enjoyed the trip and their company.

Any pupil guilty of poor behaviour will not represent the school - at sport, music, drama etc.

New head implemented this on his appointment 18 months ago. Previously the sports teacher would move heaven an earth to make sure her "stars" were always able to play and the "stars" behaved appallingl, lording it over other pupils and generally acting like they were untouchable. It had knock on effect on the behaviour throughout the school.

Now when ever auditions/trials etc are held, the head meets all those successful to congratulate them and makes it very clear what standards of behaviour are required if they are play. It's very fair, there are no surprises if someone is banned from going and the rest of the school don't see that it one rule for us and another for them.

Or are most schools like that anyway?

Agree with Bruffin about a head who loves children. This new head takes every opportunity to go on a trip, teach a class! meet parents, have a cup of tea with a group of kids. Too many heads are teachers who couldn't wait to get out of the classroom IMO.

ds - Boys', state, secondary - make you feel they are really, really glad to hear from you / that you got in touch, if ever you need to

dd - Girls', state, secondary -er, can't think of anything, so I'll use their's up on ds's school

ds's (again ) - LOADS of opportunities for outdoor Ed things, throughout the school.