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Original poster

What's life like in a big comprehensive?

17 replies

katiejemima · 06/04/2022 16:16

DD (15 yrs) and DS (13 yrs) tell me little about secondary school. They're both happy and have good groups of friends however I always get the impression that there's a fair amount of low level disruption and especially in the lower years, a lot of time is taken up sorting out problems and issuing detentions/punishments of varying severity.

The school is big (around 2,000 children) but one of the better ones in our town and with a fairly good catchment.

Like a lot of children, I suspect they'd have both benefited from a good private school with smaller classes and a different atmosphere. From the little they say, there often seems to be distractions in class.

I don't mean this to sound critical as the teachers are mostly great and I know how hard it is (my own DM was a teacher, albeit Y5 primary). I also realise that each school is very different.

For those who've taught in big state secondary schools, what has your experience been like?

OP posts:
Liverbird77 · 06/04/2022 16:19

Honestly? Not good, especially if your children are in lower sets.
I taught in a range of schools over a 15 year career. I no longer work as a teacher.

I am sending my own children to private school.

Original poster
katiejemima · 06/04/2022 16:28

That's something that's always worried me @Liverbird77. DS is in the lower sets. Not sure what the answer is apart from being encouraging/involved with homework and getting a few tutors towards GCSE time.

OP posts:
Liverbird77 · 06/04/2022 18:37

I think being involved helps massively.
Have a look at their homework, check their planners, ensure they have all the practical resources they need.
Also, perhaps consider hiring a tutor if they are struggling?

One thing I would advise is to complain loud and long if classes are being regularly disrupted!

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DistrictCommissioner · 06/04/2022 18:42

My DC is in a school of 1400 with a mixed town-rural catchment. She’s in all the top sets - I think that must make a big difference about disruption & behaviour. I went to a very different school so don’t know what it might be like on the inside.

Original poster
katiejemima · 06/04/2022 21:45

@DistrictCommissioner

My DC is in a school of 1400 with a mixed town-rural catchment. She’s in all the top sets - I think that must make a big difference about disruption & behaviour. I went to a very different school so don’t know what it might be like on the inside.
Me too @DistrictCommissioner. My husband went to a large comprehensive and thinks I fret constantly about nothing. I went to a grammar school. If the teachers ever left the classroom to go and get something, they knew that when they came back, we'd all be sitting in silence, getting on with our work...
OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 06/04/2022 21:53

My DCs school sounds similar. They also don't set the kids for much. (Only maths into 3 sets). It sounds 'interesting' in classes to say the least. I try to look on the positive side that education is more than academics. They are getting exposed to different types of people than our friends and family, and even different types of issues (eg. several transgender children in their year group). I also think teachers are forced to be more creative and engaging in their teaching, which benefits everyone. My older DC and my niece go to (different) 'naicer' schools and teaching is much more old fashioned, and a bit lazy I think. At my younger DCs school they are always doing interesting things.

Cornishmumofone · 06/04/2022 22:07

I taught in secondary schools with 600-1200 pupils. Discipline was easier in the smaller schools as the pupils knew they were more likely to be identified if they did anything wrong.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 06/04/2022 22:13

For my DD it was awful. The atmosphere among the girls at her comp could only be described as toxic. My previously socially confident child ended up having panic attacks after being bullied. Classroom behaviour was actually ok as the school was very strict but she couldn't learn while she felt so unsafe.

We moved her to a private school that follows a program called girls on board that encourages girls to support each other. She is so much happier but still having to have counselling to deal with the negative thoughts she still has from the bullying she endured at her previous school. She has been changed forever but at least she feels safe at her new school and now has a lovely group of friends.

DistrictCommissioner · 06/04/2022 22:14

katiejemima I went to a private day school & DH went to boarding school Grin it is very different but there are good things about that.

PaperTyger · 06/04/2022 22:15

Liver how to complain when it fall's on deaf ears?
Op private tutors are better then private school if you can afford it

PaperTyger · 06/04/2022 22:17

Merry 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Anyone in teaching for a while understands what even one incredibly disruptive pupil can do.

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 06/04/2022 22:18

It's not unusual for kids not to talk about school very much. I wouldn't worry about that aspect unduly. DD only used to tell me snippets of things.

Original poster
katiejemima · 07/04/2022 10:56

My mum used to say that too @PaperTyger. She was in a primary so at least there was generally a TA in the classroom too. I guess in secondary it's just the teacher trying to deal with any disruption.

OP posts:
leccybill · 07/04/2022 11:25

Worked in big comps for 18 years. Yes there's disruption from those who just don't want to be there in the lower sets. But there's warmth, fun, lots of laughter and memorable moments and it's good practice for real life - not everyone is clever and compliant.
Just be on the ball with checking their rewards and sanctions points, don't be afraid to email staff if you're not sure or not happy about anything, squeaky wheel and all that.

Housetreecar · 07/04/2022 11:30

Me too @DistrictCommissioner. My husband went to a large comprehensive and thinks I fret constantly about nothing. I went to a grammar school. If the teachers ever left the classroom to go and get something, they knew that when they came back, we'd all be sitting in silence, getting on with our work...

I went to a very prestigious, highly academic private school and the last thing we did when the teacher left the room would be to sit in silence getting on with our work

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/04/2022 11:33

@katiejemima

My mum used to say that too *@PaperTyger*. She was in a primary so at least there was generally a TA in the classroom too. I guess in secondary it's just the teacher trying to deal with any disruption.
I think secondaries have a Pastoral Team / Senior Leadership team who the disruptive kids can be sent out of class to go to. Obviously can't do this with young primary children, hence why there is in-class support.
Bunnycat101 · 07/04/2022 12:43

I went to a big comp. My top set classes were fine. Anything that was mixed was pretty bad behaviour wise. One of my friends has just pulled her year 7 daughter out of a smaller comp as they don’t set for anything and she really couldn’t cope with the disruptive behaviour. It’ll vary school to school.

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