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Original poster

MN Code of Practice For Private Schools

64 replies

zanzibarmum · 17/02/2010 21:21

Based on Mumsnet contributions and the fact that private schools are providing a 'public good'(in the economic sense) here are the first few clauses of a code of practice that such schools' collective bodies might institute. (Please add your own clauses).

We being members of the HMC, GSA, GDST etc follow this code:

Our charges for registration shall only cover costs of administration and the exam marking;

Offers will be made in line with national offer day timetable;

If we take your child we won't kick them out at end of GCSE's unless for behaviour or attendance reasons;

If we offer your DC a reserve place we will tell you where on the reserve list you are;

All children can receive their marked exam papers within 8 weeks of offer day (after all their yours and you did pay for them);

When we interview your DC we won't ask where else you have applied to;

We do not interview parents;

More to follow??

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 18/02/2010 12:27

You never really know what a school is like until your child is there, moving them around isn't good for them

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 18/02/2010 11:28

Interesting insight into some strange behaviours by schools! However, at least you can vote with our feet, or rather cheque book, and ask these questions upfront fo a school before you take the place - clearly enough people are prepared to let them carry on this way, so until the punters dry up, they are free to run the business any way they like.

bellissima · 18/02/2010 11:28

Hmmm. As the rain pours down and my two DCs endeavour to spend half term killing each other - could I possibly have the contact details of that school that turns em into Stepford Children????

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 17/02/2010 22:48

We will not show prospective parents the work of the brightest, neatest child because we want them to have an accurate view of the school.

Original poster
zanzibarmum · 17/02/2010 22:44

For children switching schools after GCSEs we will not deliberatley underestimate the child's predicted grades to their school of choice

We will clearly set out the. NC level for likely successful entry candidates

We will not tell parents 'don't tutor your children' while also demanding the children answer exam questions on topics that they will not have studied at state schools

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 17/02/2010 22:37

We will give a child who is so good at chess that they have never been beaten a place on the chess team and will not give this place to a child who needs extra lessons as they have never played before.

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 17/02/2010 22:35

Will not boast that children are reading way ahead of their chronological age because of all of the hard work that the school has put in, it is infact the parents that also listen to the children read and in some occasions, children do infact start the school already able to read fluently so they have infact, done naff all.

Children who are moving to another school should never be ignored at the end of year awards ceremony when they have worked so hard during the year and have recieved a reward or three every year since starting the school. It's spiteful!

We will not tell the child of a buddist/hindu/muslim/pagan parent that all faiths other then christian are "brainwashing occultists"

Original poster
zanzibarmum · 17/02/2010 22:23

We will not parade the Grade 8 year 7 violin prodigy at open days because her parents pushed her to be that good, not us

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 17/02/2010 22:18

Hi SueW (it's fluffybunnygonebad).

Ds tops the hideous school league

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 17/02/2010 22:16

Head teachers shouldn't be biased towards single mothers and suggest they send their child off to a boarding school with a 'firm male housemaster' because they don't like a child's quirks.

SueW · 17/02/2010 22:15

You lot must apply to some fairly hideous schools.

Original poster
zanzibarmum · 17/02/2010 22:11

Our head teachers will run the school and not write books,take sabbaticals or spend their time criticising state schools in lurid and headline catching ways

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 17/02/2010 21:27

We get the exam papers back??

Can I add:

We will do exactly what we say we are going to do for your child before you sign the registration forms and pay up.

We will not give your child dry pasta and dry chicken nuggets for lunch and expect them to eat this as there's nothing else.

We will not ask you or your children what faith you are.

We will have a sense of humour and will be understanding of your child's quirks, we will not endevour to turn them into stepford children as we respect the individual.

LauraIngallsWilder · 17/02/2010 21:25

May I be the first to offer you a