I work in 90 different secondary schools AMA

[Auntieaunt]

Basically as above. I'm also not Ofsted before I get a flaming from teachers;)

It's a government funded role, I have a DBS so often wondering around by myself and teachers rarely put on a show. It's in an educational role just for year 10/11s.

My schools are varied from £30,000 A year to failing - rural to urban to grammar and SEN.

To kick things off my first observation is that state schools usually have better facilities than those in the private sector.

Curious now about the difference in facilities

What about state grammars? I think there is an idea that they all have terrific facilities too and more money, but my local comp seems to have far better facilities than some of the grammars, which seemed quite run down.

To kick things off my first observation is that state schools usually have better facilities than those in the private sector.

Can you expand?

How do schools differ? Do you get a feel for ‘good’ schools? Based on what?

Er, well the obvious question is what do you do?

I have observed the opposite where I live! The private schools have fantastic sports facilities ime

How is that? I've started looking at secondaries and in my area there is no doubt at all that the facilities in the private schools (all first rate privates) beat those in the state schools (first rate state as well) by a country mile.

My question is: do you think, in academies in particular, there is selection via the back door? Kids being removed from the roll?

Is there a genuine correlation between extremely strict rules about uniform/minor misdemeanours and quality of learning?

How does behaviour honestly compare? I teach in an Outstanding school with a fantastic reputation. The behaviour is some teachers classrooms is appalling!

Do you have children? What criteria/feel/characteristics did you/would you look for when applying for school places for them?

Did you start off as a teacher?

@Auntieaunt

are you planning to return to this thread at any timer? Or does AMA mean 'you can ask but I'm not going to bother myself answering'?

Ok - my question.

I worry that there is far too much focus on 'strictness' - and our children are not being given enough space and time to develop their creative thinking or their physical fitness and wellbeing.

I think mental health issues among young people are a symptom of this problem - do you see this at all in your work?

I also really want to know about secondary 'moderns' in a gramar area as I might be moving into Kent and want to consider the risk of my children not getting into a grammar.

Yeah, where is OP, have we all been put in the naughty corner?

"in an educational role just for year 10/11s."

Let's hope it isn't teaching them to spell as I assume you are WANDERING around not wondering.

What advice would you give to parents of upper primary aged children who are about to start looking round local secondary schools for their dc? What would you look for?

Who's your favourite Muppet?

Sorry all! I posted this thread late Thursday and as I didn't get a response in the first few days I presumed it had died.

There's quite a few questions here and I will try to answer all of them as much as I can however I'm going to wait until I get home as writing on my phone is a pain.

I've just come back from a tour of a private secondary and it most certainly does have better facilities than my daughters current state secondary. What are you paying for otherwise?

hurray!

Yeah what do you do?

Have you read Muriel Spark? She makes some interesting comments about the fabric of comprehensives versus grammars... facilities ain't all that, it's the teaching that counts. Which school attracts the greater number of candidates for teaching roles and has better teachers? Which school has a better retention record for teachers?
Whatever you're doing in schools it's not on the pedagogy side.

Can you give an example of a 30k a year school that has worse facilities than a state school in the same town?

surely a £30k a year school is boarding? The top private day schools near my are between £15.5 and £18k a year.

Sorry for the lack of replies as I've had some unexpected family things come up and I'm still on my way home.

I will get back to you all soon xo

WeepingWillow our nearest independent school (SE England) is over £8000 per term for years 9-13 and there are a lot of not-very-optional extras on top of that. So it would be very easy to get to £30k per annum. They do have boarding facilities, but that is the fee for day pupils, who are the majority.

Having said that, the facilities are fairy breath-taking.