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Secondary education

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Original poster

Detentions as a punishment

507 replies

SweatyLama · 04/10/2024 20:40

I didn't grow up in the UK, but my children were born here. This year, my DS started secondary school for the first time, and I discovered that they have a system of punishments in place. Is this a common practice in all state schools in Britain? I really don't like this system ( I mean punishments) and find it degrading and outdated.

OP posts:
Babbadoobabbadock · 04/10/2024 21:11

Completely normal, what do you suggest as an alternative?

Original poster
SweatyLama · 04/10/2024 21:10

It's really sad. In primary school, this doesn't happen, and the teachers do a great job. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the primary education system is organized. It's strange that up until 6 yaer, children were treated like people, but in secondary school, like criminals.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 04/10/2024 21:05

Yes.

Detentions are standard in nearly all state and private schools in England.

TeenToTwenties · 04/10/2024 21:04

I guess the question is what would you use instead?

Some schools are incredibly strict and give detentions out like sweets. Others are much more circumspect and only use them for repeated or more serious issues.

Original poster
SweatyLama · 04/10/2024 21:02

is it the same in private schools?

OP posts:
Pythag · 04/10/2024 20:58

Almost all schools in the U.K. have detentions as punishments. There are likely a few really “progressive” schools that don’t have that, but hardly any…

BehindTheSequinsandStilettos · 04/10/2024 20:44

yes - 10 minutes at break or lunch or end of day for missing homework, being late or disrupting lessons - half an hour/40 minutes detention if they don't come to the first one, are exited from a lesson for disruption or something more serious.

has always been used - but other state school systems in Europe do the same - one could argue theirs are worse as if their children fail a year for whatever reason, they have to resit the whole year with others younger.