Anyone else can't wait for their DC to leave Primary school?

[Eastie77Returns]

So much drama on DC's Y6 parent chat with issues over bullying, constant complaining about school policies, poor quality of the lunches etc. Veiled threats from parents stating that their child has been excluded from this, that or the other and parents of the kids who are instigators of it "better deal with this" or else.

I've muted the chat but also get cornered by parents in the playground wanting to discuss XYZ. DC had a sleepover a few months ago. We have limited space so 5 children were invited. The mother of a non invited child sent me a barrage of messages about it. There are constant issues with friendship groups which is completely normal for primary school but what I do not understand is why parents need to be so involved in it all. Surely 11 year old kids need to resolve playground disputes themselves?

I'm counting down the days to July and the end of this. I purposefully avoided the closest secondary school that most of the class will be attending.

Their last school was nothing like this. The parent chat was silent apart from the odd "does anyone know when non-uniform day is" and I was genuinely devastated when we left (due to a house move) and still miss the school to this day.

I know more shit is to come at Secondary but hopefully less involvement with parents??

Can't wait here.

So done with it all as is DD.

The kids are all fed up with each other and ready to move on too.

Oh this is sad. I wish mine could have another year at primary, her school and class are absolutely lovely.

You have a whole different set of issues.

but good luck.

From what I gather, parent chat groups are mostly a nightmare. I decided not to join them when my dc were at primary school. Kids have friendship issues at secondary school, but most parents don't get involved in them unless it's something pretty serious. The parents who are constantly involving themselves in petty disputes between their secondary age dc are usually toxic types with poor interpersonal skills, who thrive on drama and love taking offence.

Yes, my sense is the kids have outgrown the primary school dynamic now and are also done with each other.

It won’t improve at senior school…😳

secondary has been way worse for my son wish he was back in primary

Can I ask, in what ways Secondary school is worse? I’m aware the issues the kids deal with are potentially a lot bigger as they grow older. My issue with the Primary is that there just seems to be a non-stop carousel of problems around bullying, friendship circles, being left out and then parents behaving in quite an aggressive way to protect their children.

Also complaints about ridiculous things: a group of parents recently campaigned to start a petition against a Y3 teacher who raised his voice at the children…

I think the issue is with the parents and not primary school.

bullying has been so much worse

DS has been at three primary schools in two countries, and parental WhatsApps have only ever consisted of reminders about cake sales or requests for which page for maths homework. Maybe the occasional lost hoodie.

I will be happy when DS moves to secondary, but because he needs to be stretched and is coasting.

@Eastie77Returns basically secondary is potentially everything you've highlighted here: "My issue with the Primary is that there just seems to be a non-stop carousel of problems around bullying, friendship circles, being left out".
Completely depends on the school but you also add social media into the mix!
Yr7 can be a tough transition especially around friendships as they find their tribe but hopefully the school will be a good one that doesn't tolerate bullying etc.

I remember all the Facebook poems about emotional final walks to school holding primary dc hang on their last day… we were more of a pull up, child jumps out of car and yells “bye” kind of family. My youngest’s last day was joyous!

I was thrilled to leave behind the coven at the primary school gate. They were some of the most dreadful people I'd ever come across.

Vaping in class and toilets, fights, shitty behaviour, furries (there is a wolf in DDs class), that you know less about what is going on, non attendance is a huge issue, they are independently going to school.

The bullying and friendship circle shit still happens but you'll know less about it.

This is an 'outstanding' school in an affluent area.

H teaches in the sister school and shocked at the behaviour.

I have one left at primary and I will be sad to see the end of that chapter, however I won't miss the school itself as I really don't rate it.
However secondary isn't often a walk in the park, there's a whole new set of problems, rules and new territory to navigate, just in a different way. The only upside is you don't get the WhatsApp groups and parent involvement.

I can wait but I'm not in a WhatsApp group, I'm mostly looking forward to having more time in the morning as she'll get the bus and I can finally experience working from home without the school run first!

Also not having to go in for assemblies, church services etc. I'm assuming any concerts etc will be in the evening so there will be much less pressure on my annual leave.

Also looking forward to DD learning lots of different subjects and at a higher level than primary school and seeing where her interest lie etc.

The friendship issues continue in secondary, especially with girls ime. The difference is you dont see or hear from other parents as much.

Same old shit in secondary school just without the parent group chat. And they're exposed to a lot worse stuff.

Luckily my DS has made it through fairly unscathed, he's in Year 11 and leaving in June. Can't wait.

One good thing is not having to do the school run and remember stuff for comic relief/world book day/Halloween party etc etc.

I was pleased to get DC2 out of primary as I felt a lot of the friendships were based around the mum friends more than the kids themselves. So my DC would not get invited to a party because I was not in the group, etc.
That was way better at secondary as he was judged purely on his own merits - however, the bigger problems of bullying, vaping, swearing (which worried me in Y7) loom large and now as a parent, you only hear snippets and it's hard to know when to worry.
Avoid avoid avoid any kind of parent whatsapp groups from here on though.

My oldest leaves primary this year and I can't wait to see the back of a few parents. DC1 is also delighted to be able to get away from there kids. Toxic bullying parents whose kids instigate endless issues in school, target and bully other kids, cause fights, say the nastiest things but the parents are not much better.

the bullying has been worse in my sons school i actually took him out after he was attacked by a group of boys (never happened in primary and we never experience any of the things mentioned in the op including bullying but im also not a member of any whatsapp groups)

Im so pleased them days are over with.
The day my 2 left school for good was the best day ever.
The stress just went away and i had more money left surprised at what the school was costing me.
FREEDOM AT LAST.

The secondary school seems to have a good anti-bullying policy but then again all the secondary schools in the area make similar statements - including the one that apparently has a huge problem with it.

I will just have to keep my fingers crossed.

Yes they all have good policies but not all schools apply them!