I've taught for 25 years in (state) secondary education...AMA!

[harrogatemumofone]

What do you want to know!?

As a gender critical person it seems to me that too many teachers and school librarians bring their trans rights activism into school and can give incorrect and inappropriate information to children.

Have you seen an uptick in children taken in by gender woo? And staff nodding it along?

Would you say behaviour is worse now than when you started or are there just different issues eg cyber bullying?

Violence is on the rise. Adolescence didn't shock me in the slightest, which saddened me. I'm not scared of pupils but there are pupils i really dread teaching due to the energy their poor behaviour takes to manage.

Is that you Cod?

What was the most important thing you looked for in your children’s schools?

IMO behaviour is definitely more challenging - society has changed (eg rise in blame culture/entitlement/less resilience/mental health).

Yes, pastoral staff spend a significant amount of time dealing with the fall-outs from online related issues eg snapchat.

I will answer all Qs - so sorry I've missed them. I've been back at work since GSCE results (no kids in!).

Have you ever worked in a school that has had a huge turn-a-round within a few years — from severely underperforming, bullying, antisocial behaviour, etc — and what do you think the most important factors were in making that change, given the kids all came from the same area, teachers mostly the same etc? Where does this change in attitude and pride come from?

My child’s school got a new head 3 years ago (a year before he started). Last year they had a 4+ in GCSE English and maths of 14%, and 5+ 7%. This year it was 75% and 45% respectively.

Obviously this is a trickle down effect and this head is doing wonders. (Behaviour and attitude has improved no bounds as well).

Pension forecast not as good as everyone thinks!!!!!

It's still brilliant, the employer contribution is 28%!!!

@harrogatemumofone

what are the best things parents can do to support their dc during secondary?

@harrogatemumofonethanks for this AMA! I’m just choosing a secondary for my DD we are in central London. What should I look for, what are the red flags and the green ones. I want her to be happy, she’s very compliant but tends to be anxious. I would love to get this choice right for her but I feel out of my depth. How would you choose.

Cod?? Not sure what you mean, sorry.

For us it was the catchment area (we live in non grammar area) and having history of good/outstanding ofsted inspections. Being able to walk and go to a school that was at the heart of the community was important to us. Having friends that live nearby. A school where the staff can focus on the teaching. We started the research well before the secondary years.

Would £30k a year private secondary be worth it? We are in catchment for a "Good" secondary, that has quite a good reputation. But we're in Grammar area so all the academic kids go off to Grammar. I can't help but feel behavioural issues will be greater in the state secondary and it's really worrying me.

Create a culture where you talk about what they are learning. Show an interest. Don't be a helicopter parent and get overly involved either - let them flourish, work things out and build resilience. Attend parents' evenings and events so you are fully in the loop.

Well done being a teacher, one of the most important yet underrated jobs.

How many schools have you taught at? There seems to be a high turnover of teachers in most schools.

My comprehensive school was like adolescence, that was 35yrs ago. No phones of course which must make it even worse. I was most surprised not by adolescence but by people who thought it was unrealistic.

@harrogatemumofone thank you.

I have been debating between private & state. Private is now 30k a year so a huge cost but we live in a catchment of a very good (outstanding, great results) state. Do you think good states are good enough? Obviously private will have many better aspects but I am not convinced 200k worth of difference.

I was most surprised not by adolescence but by people who thought it was unrealistic.

My own school was nothing like the above & I have worked in schools & not seen this. Granted in affluent areas of London.

Lovely for you!

I was in a working class area in the north.

I could do with some advice if that’s ok.
Eldest child: just got GCSE results. Did no work. Passed them but nowhere close to meeting potential. Did a lot worse than mocks. Waiting for autism assessment and it was picked up between mocks and actual exams that eligible for 25% extra time for processing issue. He didn’t meet criteria for going into selective sixth form but they made an exception for him as he was close and he had good behaviour tract record etc . Had to change one A level option. So actually in a better position because of it as much better A levels for his abilities being taken. We supported him and his friends did too so he’s thrown off the disappointment (or appears to).
so my question: I’m not sure how much the lack of work was “I don’t need to bother” verses “I’m overwhelmed and avoided it”. Is there a way of telling and helping him going forward?

@Absentmindedsmile but surely you know not everyone lives where you live so why would you be surprised that not everyone had your experience?

The area of London I grew up in was nothing like how it is today. I don't think people realise how different parts of London used to be.

Without wishing to derail the thread.. I was not surprised that people have different school experiences, I was surprised that many had so little awareness about some schools, they thought adolescence was unrealistic.

I don’t live there now. No thanks to the shit school, I got out. Many are still there as only 2 or 3 of us from that school went to uni (after equally awful college).

Perhaps we are talking at cross purposes. I didn't ever see anyone say they thought no school was like adolescence just that it wasn't the norm.

Four - one in SE, 2 in Yorkshire, one in NW (only got a year)

@harrogatemumofone was that answer meant for me?

Is trans ideology in schools waning now?

I have been teaching the same time as you, just wanted to point out a couple of things. Pensions take a massive hit if you have been part time at all. Top teacher salary for a classroom teacher will be £51k from September but less and less schools are paying this. You are not guaranteed the same salary if you miss schools and schools do not have to move you up the scale.