to move my child to another school because of PJ wearing parents and other things.....

[fiftieslover]

Hi there, your views would be appreciated.

My ds is currently in yr 3 (8 yrs old) he is in a mixed class of years 3 and 4. Since Christmas I have had really serious doubts about the school he is in.

He has asked to move schools a couple of times in the past 6 months and I am seriously considering it. BUT I know at 8 this is a massive change for him. He is a social little boy who makes friends easily and can articulate his thoughts really well. The issues I have with the school are as follows.

1. Parents dropping their children off still wearing their PJs. I not talking lounge wear here, I'm talking fullish sheep adorned pink things. I turn up at school dressed for work, smart and ready for the day.

1. Leading on from 1 is the reason for the PJ wearing. There is a very high number of unemployed parents in the school. I live in a nice part of not a very nice area IYKWIM. Unemployment has always been a problem. I have lived in this area for over 30 years and alot of the children in ds class are 4th and 5th generation unemployed. So I assume the pj wearing is because they have nothing to get ready for? I need to add that sometimes the children are picked up from school at 3pm with said parents still adorning the sheep attire.

I have never been unemployed so struggle to empathise really with the other parents. I work in recruitment and know there are always things you can do to improve your chances but I have never been there so know I dont fully understand the effect unemployment has on you.

1. There are ALOT of kids in the class that are morphing into absolute horrors. The behaviour is getting worse as each school year passes. Once lovely little 4 year olds are now 8 year old swearing, disrespectful kids. My ds went over to one of them the other day to show him his homework. The other kid looked at my ds as if he were stupid and said I dont do homework - I wouldnt dare!.

1. I'm aware this is getting long so going to cut it short. The teachers appear to spend alot of time on discipline - taking actual teaching time away from the good kids.

1. In the past out of 26 kids, there are approximately 8 that behave really well. If the other 18 are playing up, the whole class has been punished. This really annoyed me.

I could go on and I think I have answered my own question seeing it in black and white but would still appreciate your comments.

Thanks fifties x

5th generation unemployed? So nobody has worked since, what, the 1890s? How sad.

You sound charming

Is there another school nearby with available places? If so, I would go and have a look around and seriously consider moving (all assuming, of course, that they seem better).

I wouldn't want my son to attend a school like the one you describe. I don't imagine the children's attitude to education and learning will impove as they get older.

Reasons 1 and 2 alone sound exceptionally snobby

YANBU for wanting to move schools if you feel there is an issue with discipline and your ds isn't learning because of this.

YABU for assuming that unemployed parents are the only reason for these problems. My close friend teaches at a private boys school and has huge problems with discipline among the pupils - there are many reasons for children's bad behavior. The PJ's don't matter - I wouldn't do it but its not affecting how your son is taught.

rilla hahahahaha! Loving your work.

op you don't think that the school is meeting your sons needs? Then move him.

The American students doing a semester abroad at my uni said it was the done thing to attend classes in PJs. Clothes were trying too hard

Don't worry about whether or not people think you're "snobby". (Very predictable response from mumsnet, btw).

All I can say is that dsd transferred from a school not dissimilar to the one you have described and was so much happier and did so much better at her new school that she was like a different girl. (She had been bullied because she tried hard at school and answered questions in class and was just "different" from most of the other children - it was such a relief for us all to get her away from that pernicious atmosphere.)

Really?

Since you work in recruitment, and you know what people can do to improve their chances, why don't you offer to run some 'back to work' training at the school for those parents who can't find work. You might be able to improve the life chances for them and their children.

This might be useful for you to look at.

brad yes I've had a look around another nearby school and the dicipline was far better, ds liked it and they have a uniform so everyone looks exactly the same. Currently in ds school a uniform isnt compulsory.

exceptionally snobby... never been called that before, supposed not wearing pjs to school qualifies me now

Lots of people will call you a snob because of this but if the school isn't right for your son then move him.

The main issue is discipline and if they are having trouble with it at the school then no one will learn.

Thanks for the laugh OP!

5th generation unemployed?!

Rows of children all looking exactly the same

I wonder how many of those unemployed parents can spell "a lot" correctly? Maybe those who can could proofread for you. It really won't matter what they wear as their ability to spell won't depend on it.

YANBU, though, to want to remove your child from a school where discipline is poor. The question is whether you'd find a place in a suitable state school - if the area isn't that nice there may well be other undesirable schools locally and a huge demand for the better ones.

ami I would happily help anyone who wanted to get back into work. Unfortuately at the moment there are so many people out of work in our area employers are very picky, they too have standards and dress codes......

emsyj What was the point of that!?

They could apply for bed testing jobs.

Where abouts do you live op?

Or Pajama modeling jobs

she lives in Bedford

Your DS is currently being set on a course for life.

3 4 5 are not how he should be learning. YANBU.

1 2 alone YABU.

usual looking the same as in they dont have the latest trainers or nike top.