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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if anybody watched 'britains biggest primary school'

25 replies

guiltynetter · 27/02/2015 13:02

last night on channel 5 and found the little girl Alaniss who had conduct disorder very sad? it's not something iv ever heard of so I've done a bit of googling this morning, but she just seemed so depressed? and very odd behaviour - saying her favourite bit of school was splashing water in her face and smelling her feet. but not in a playful way. I never saw her smile. poor girl :-/

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 27/02/2015 13:05

I watched it too. I can see what you are saying, but as the mother of a child who has been bullied, I was less sympathetic towards her.

angelos02 · 27/02/2015 13:08

'Conduct disorder'? Is that the latest buzzword for a naughty kid?Hmm

Original poster
guiltynetter · 27/02/2015 13:21

angelos did you even watch it?

OP posts:
Original poster
guiltynetter · 27/02/2015 13:23

she didn't seem just 'naughty'. very odd behaviour really. almost like mental health issues?

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Sirzy · 27/02/2015 13:28

Ye the poor girl was obviously struggling. I do wonder if that was the best setting for her, I know she had just returned from a special unit but I wonder if a smaller school would have been easier for her to cope with.

lucydaniels4658 · 27/02/2015 20:11

I have worked with many children with conduct disorder its not the new "buzz word for naughty children." How ignorant its a mental illness would you say something so rude about a young person with depression?

calmexterior · 27/02/2015 20:30

I really enjoy watching this - I think for such a big school in a diverse area they seem to do really well with the children (including Alannis)

WayfaringStranger · 27/02/2015 20:42

That cute little girl was not naughty, she was clearly struggling with a lot of conflicting emotions. Her support worker seemed really good. I thought it was very sweet when he held her hand as they walked around the school.

Original poster
guiltynetter · 27/02/2015 20:42

yes calmexterior they seem to have a lot of support in place for the children who have additional needs, which is a lot! I can't believe how big it is.

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BertieBrabinger · 27/02/2015 21:07

I watched it too and Lawd, it made me remember what I had forgotten about those pre-pubescent years of being still small trying to deal with big issues. It made me quite sad actually. I felt bad for Alaniss's mum, especially when she said she was the one who was there most of the time but given the chance her daughter would move in with her father at the drop of a hat. Poor mum, poor kid.

I can't help but feel schools this large aren't doing ANY of the kids any favours though.

TheFirstOfHerName · 27/02/2015 21:46

Alaniss seemed very unhappy and quite alienated, despite the best efforts of the staff.

Original poster
guiltynetter · 28/02/2015 07:57

yes thefirstofthename. iv never seen a child quite like it. she never smiled.

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QueenofLouisiana · 28/02/2015 08:05

It is on my list of things to catch up with. The first episode made me howl for that little boy who had lost his mum.

I teach Yr5 and 6 and kept thinking about them in the same situation.

TheFirstOfHerName · 28/02/2015 09:03

I wonder if she has been assessed for Asperger's. Her facial expressions, her incomprehension of social niceties, her sensory quirks, the way she repeated a word over and over when she liked the sound of it: all said ASD to me.

Teapot74 · 28/02/2015 09:08

I am finding it a very troubling series. I used to teach in some are schools years ago (Tower Hamlets, Southwark). I really do wish the govt. would put it's hand in it's pocket and double the amount spent on education.

The80sweregreat · 28/02/2015 09:24

The young support worker was very good - so calm and really wanted to help this troubled little girl. The assistant head said she was the most challenging child he had come across- I felt that being in such a huge primary school was probably not a good idea. I was at school in the early 70s, usually children like this would be placed in a special school, but that was a looong time ago now.

off topic but the little boy who was friends with Elsie was funny - how he suddenly became all 'macho' about their on and off friendship made me smile! it was an eye opener to me too how they teach about relationships with the dolls and so on. Some of the little ones seemed a bit bemused by all that..

crazyauntie · 28/02/2015 09:33

Felt so sorry for alaniss, her hot support worker Was amazing with her and very understanding. the girl who was going back to Africa just raised massive alarm bells regarding fgm.

CharlesRyder · 28/02/2015 09:39

'Conduct Disorder' is actually quite an old school term. I have taught in specialist primary EBD/ challenging behaviour provision for over 10 years now and have never seen a statement with that on.

I thought she looked like she had a lot of underlying issues. I imagine the 'specialist unit' she had been to was a nurture group, the principals of which dictate that the children shouldn't be there for more than 4 terms or so. I didn't think mainstream looked like the right setting for her though.

AmysTiara · 28/02/2015 09:44

I felt sorry for her too, she seemed so unhappy the poor thing

wasn't her support worker gorgeous though?

The80sweregreat · 28/02/2015 13:22

amys, he was lovely - did he say he was disruptive at school himself and turned it around? he seemed to be really good with the little girl.
Crazy, I said to DH about fgm and the little girl going back to Africa. ( he didn't know what it was) I hope it was nothing to do with that, but she is the right age..

crazyauntie · 28/02/2015 14:25

The80s the right age, similar excuse. I really hope so to. I heard them say it and my alarm bells went completely. Her home country does practice fgm Hmm

The80sweregreat · 28/02/2015 14:45

Yes, alarm bells. She was so lovely too.

Original poster
guiltynetter · 28/02/2015 20:33

I also thought that about the little girl going back to Africa :(

and yes the first episode made me sob for the little boy who's mum had died. !

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mummytowillow · 01/03/2015 21:25

I've watched it and cried buckets fir that little boy.

I also blubbed when Allanis was watching for her dad as my DD 7 worships her dad. He lets her down frequently and it's heartbreaking for both of us Hmm

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