Why do our kids hate secondary school?

[noblegiraffe]

Together with the news from PISA that our teens are the unhappiest in Europe, new research shows that engagement and enjoyment of school falls off a cliff once kids leave primary and start secondary.

https://schoolsweek.co.uk/revealed-the-school-pupils-who-disengage-during-year-7-dip/

https://www.thedeveloperlive.co.uk/opinion/opinion/why-do-uk-teens-have-among-the-lowest-life-satisfaction-in-the-oecd

"It found that while engagement declines through school “in almost every country”, the magnitude “is more pronounced in England”, suggesting disengagement is not just a symptom of age “but something atypical” that is happening in England.

There has been lots and lots of discussion about the impact that social media is having on teen mental health - what about the impact of having to go to secondary schools that they clearly don't like?

You can say the same about the car crash known as the NHS.

Shame it will never happen with our political system as our hopeless politicians can’t help make health, education, justice etc into political footballs.

I suppose we can only hope for proper proportional representation and permanent coalition governments where cross party support and agreement spans Parliaments and decades.

Cant see it happening so we’ll carry on limping into decline. See-sawing from one party to another with neither making any tangible improvements.

I’m a teacher. I feel for my students and have lots of insight into their unhappiness. Unfortunately secondary school is an environment in which children often feel overwhelmed and indeed unsafe. From the primary school single classroom one teacher model, they’re suddenly faced with seven or eight classes and teachers plus an entire school to navigate.

There is nowhere safe for students to go to avoid bullying which is always happening to someone and the others have to witness it or be the target. Then in class they’re subjected to “bounced questions” and peer review meaning they have to build on or criticise others’ statements and written work leading to a social minefield of stress we would never subject adults to in the workplace. No one is allowed to sit quietly at the back of the class any more. All students are forced to speak in front of others whether they like it or not.

lastly there’s the complete lack of choice of subjects. Nothing practical such as motor mechanics or basic plumbing. Everything is assessed by written work and there’s very little choice. These kids are stuck there for five years and their mental health suffers as a result.

@Superhansrantowindsor totally agree I've been saying this for years each one needs a crack team around it with long term players and then others feeding in like lower down nurses and jn education teachers but also tas.
People actually on the ground seeing what is going on.
A research team constantly looking at other countries systems and what's working well.

I've also just read labour are implanting a new writing standard in primary school apparently a huge amount of children are not able to write or read properly by the time they leave primary school.

Nrft, but ime it’s bound up with the british class system and general questions of where does it get you. There’s a lot of academic pressure in our secondary schools in a country with gross inequality. Ffs kids who’ve just finished mock gcse exams are… having end of year tests. Why?

So many youngsters are now asking the questions we’re all asking about just what is the point. My dd tells me too that all the girls at her school are specifically worried about sexism and their future prospects, as well as knowing in general about environmental issues and inequality issues.

Then you get the level of outright bullying or judgementalism on top, which again seems particularly extreme in Britain.

Ps - won’t let me edit to add - and all the schools round here seem to be mostly concerned with appearance and wearing blazers, not minor issues such as job prospects and career guidance. I hope all the judgemental teachers were happy the other day when it threw it down with rain and all the kids were running home soaked because no one has rain coats that can fit over blazers. Of course British teenage obsession with fashion has something to answer for too - but what’s the difference with the teachers?

Children go from relatively small schools maybe 60 children per year group so these giant secondary schools where it’s often 150 plus per year group. They stop existing as Tom and Jenny. The personal touch that exists at primary goes. They became really a number and name on a giant spread sheet.

Over the top stupid dress codes that often if you read it dictate the colour of your socks! Blazers must be worn even when it’s 30c.

Why not if we must have a uniform it be very basic. Blouse/shirt, smart trousers/skirt, smart jumper, sensible black shoes.

So many lessons that stopped being fun but are still enforced until you get to options and even then you still can’t always get rid of the ones you hate due to subject clashes to get the ones you do want.

Why does everyone have to do dance and drama and art and french can maybe swap to another language at year 10 but otherwise French. we know they don’t have to do them as Stem schools don’t. Our little robots.

Test test test test test.

I enjoyed primary, hated secondary and loved college.