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Original poster

Advice please - Name and shame board in high school

22 replies

loopylou6 · 30/04/2014 11:59

Ds is 15, I spoke to his head of year yesterday morning, she said that although hes very bright and is predicted very good grades, his attitude to learning is a 3, which is only average, shes concerned because he only has ten months left in school, so can we meet to discuss?
Of course, I'd be happy to, we set the date, all great.

Ds comes home from school angry and upset, apparently, in assembly, they have a ' name and shame' board, and out of 16 students that have been pulled up about their ATL his is the only name called out, with the teacher informing him that she'd spoken to me and I was coming in to see her.

Now, whilst I'm fully prepared to work with the school to ensure ds achieves the very best he can, I'm not sure about this ' name and shame' thing. It seems like a form of bullying, as its effectively belittling?.

I'm planning on calling the school soon, but just wanted others takes on it.

Thanks :)

OP posts:
BreeWannabe · 30/04/2014 12:07

I'm a secondary teacher. And I think that is awful. Yes, take it up with the school and insist his name is removed. (But do engage in discussion with your son about how he can improve this).

nennypops · 30/04/2014 12:12

That is outrageous. Surely any school knows that naming and shaming a teenager for his attitude to learning is the one sure guaranteed way to make his attitude ten times worse?

And if he needs to be 'shamed' for an 'average' attitude to learning, what are they doing about the ones whose attitude is worse than his? As a matter of simple maths, if his attitude is average there must be quite a number who are worse.

quietbatperson · 30/04/2014 12:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
loopylou6 · 30/04/2014 12:21

Thank you so much for the replies, I just wanted to make sure others thought the same as me. I can genuinely and honestly say that he isn't a naughty child, he's by no means perfect, tends to get distracted easily though.

I really felt for him because he said he felt so humiliated having his name called out infront on the whole school :(

OP posts:
PrincessBabyCat · 30/04/2014 12:30

Yes, I'd imagine if I went to a school like that my attitude towards learning wouldn't be great either...

SharkBearGator · 30/04/2014 12:30

I wonder if he was being made an example of because you are taking the time to go in and discuss it? A scare tactic/warning that parents will be involved if they don't buck their ideas up.

I don't agree with it and if it had happened to me at school would have been utterly humiliated.

attheendoftheday · 30/04/2014 12:33

That's appalling! I would complain. Name and shame is totally inappropriate.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 30/04/2014 12:34

What next, putting pupils in stocks so others can throw rotting veg?

blueemerald · 30/04/2014 12:36

Disgusting. Name and shame tactics are so outdated. Is your son at an academy? Perhaps an academy chain beginning with H?

KatieKaye · 30/04/2014 12:40

It is bullying. And dreadful.
FFS he has a 3, which is A average so on that alone they cannot justify singling him out.
Teacher needs to apologise in public. If DC was humiliated in front of whole school then he needs to be vindicated in front of whole school. Poor kid!

Original poster
loopylou6 · 30/04/2014 12:52

Thanks for the continued replies.

I've phoned the school and am waiting for the 'Teacher' to call me back.

It is indeed an Academy, but doesn't begin with H, its a COE academy

OP posts:
SpottieDottie · 30/04/2014 12:56

It's disgusting. I would be furious with the school but also would tackle it at home and see if I could help improve the attitude.
I hope the school sort it out quickly.

Wickeddevil · 30/04/2014 13:03

I am so angry on your DS's behalf. As other's have pointed out it is not the way to get teenagers to improve their attitude.

Can you name and shame the school?

Wickeddevil · 30/04/2014 13:04

I am so angry on your DS's behalf. As other's have pointed out it is not the way to get teenagers to improve their attitude.

Can you name and shame the school?

Original poster
loopylou6 · 30/04/2014 13:08

Yep spottie, I fully intend on doing what I can to have him improve his ATL, this will mostly include removal of privileges untill I see improvement.

I could name and shame school, but then I'd risk outing myself.

Thanks each and everyone for you replies :)

OP posts:
SpottieDottie · 30/04/2014 13:27

Good luck, and hopefully the school will stop bullying pupils.

BelleOfTheBoys · 30/04/2014 20:50

I'm a sixth form teacher. That's utterly appalling. I'd be in there like a shot complaining to the governors. What atrocious, bullying behaviour.

Ask the teachers when you go to your meeting how exactly that contributes to your son Enjoying & Achieving or feeling safe (these are every child matters framework points). Ask them to explain exactly what the reasoning is behind this nasty little divide and conquer tactic and ask them to back it up with evidence it works. I'm shocked. What lazy teaching, and what an awful, Gove-esque 1920's idea.

If your son is feeling a little demotivated (and many do towards the last few months), they should be focussing on his achievements, what his aspirational targets are, and what his next step is (whatever that may be). Name and shame? How on earth is that supposed to motivate him? I'm so angry for your DS.

By any chance, if you were to look at your DS' predicted grades, is he predicted a lot of C ish grades, with a 3 for ATL? Those students take a battering come the end and exam time as it's those borderline students, whom the school seems capable of achieving those precious C-and-above grades but that also may be demotivated, tired or just lost focus and so risk getting D's (one eye on the league tables, anyone?) that get focused on. Students who are nowhere near a C get abandoned, students who will comfortably achieve plus C get patted on the back and told not to stuff up, but the borderline C kids, the ones who could go C/D either way get pressured to death. I get them on my level 2 and 3 courses all the time and I can really spot the C students - they are always a bit battle-fatigued when they arrive in my class. I feel so bad for them.

Original poster
loopylou6 · 30/04/2014 22:50

Thank you so much for replies. Belle, I'll give you details tomorrow if you wouldn't mind looking over them? I'm just off to bed :)

I spoke to the teacher ( finally ) she is head of year. she apologised and said it was meant ' more jokey' and that she would apologise to ds tomorrow. Apparently, only his name was called out from 16 others, because he was on her mind because she had spoken to me earlier in the day Hmm

I'm meeting with her tomorrow around 6ish, so would appreciate more pointers with regards to what to say without coming across badly. She is of the opinion that ds needs a constant behavioural report, this makes me sad, his only crime is a level 3 atl :(

OP posts:
Original poster
loopylou6 · 30/04/2014 22:53

Also, just off the top of my head, he is predicted very high grades in business and engineering, as in a merit, and about a C in English

OP posts:
KatieKaye · 30/04/2014 22:59

Never mind his attitude to learning - what about her attitude towards pupils? What on earth is amusing about picking on a teenage boy in public, in front of the whole school? it was a huge lapse in judgement at the very least and I hope his confidence hasn't been too badly dented.
Surely "average" means just that? It's not a crime, yet she felt the need to single out one child and hold him up to ridicule.
I would be asking why she has breached confidence about his report and why she deliberately named any child.
Actually, given her actions, I can't exactly blame your son for not being more "inspired" by the teaching he is receiving. Certainly their pastoral care is abysmal.
I'd also suggest that you ask her what she has been doing to support and work with your son to improve the situation in a positive manner. It sounds as if she's frustrated because he is capable of more - but has no idea how to approach this in a constructive manner.
It's very disturbing that someone with no clue about boundaries is actually head of year and I'd definitely be taking this further.

maddy68 · 01/05/2014 01:20

I'm a secondary teacher. I think that is a dreadful way to motivate students! I would certainly phone school about it. What a weird thing to do?

peacoat · 01/05/2014 02:28

My current school does this. I started there in September and I first saw it at a parents information evening. I was aghast.

I'm handing in my notice tomorrow and this sort of attitude to students is one of the two reasons I'm resigning.

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