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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if all schools do this

72 replies

woodenfences · 05/10/2018 19:39

Been teaching a while.

Every single school I’ve worked in has been adamant that it’s catchment area is deprived. I have worked in no less than five schools claiming to be in one of the most deprived areas of the country.

They aren’t. They are bog standard normal schools.

AIBU to wonder if all schools do this and why?

OP posts:
MyBrexitGoesOnHoliday · 05/10/2018 20:13

I live near Middlesbrough so I guess most teachers could say that in most schools.
Even though not all of them. Some of them are nice schools too.
My experience though is that, even in the very nice school, you can still feel the influence if the deprived areas.

Im a bit at loss as to how teachers in properly nice areas ça;say the area is deprived.

Or is that it feels deprived to them. As in deprived culturally maybe ?

HighwayDragon1 · 05/10/2018 20:21

PP funding is the benchmark for deprivation, since those in receipt of it statistically don't do as well as those who don't need it.

Schools release three sets of data after exams, the standard 5-9 including English and Maths, SEN attainment and PP attainment. On average both pp and Sen achieve between 1/2 and 1.5 grade lower than the rest of the cohort. In our school this year the difference was 0.5 of a grade, which is an amazing result for or statistically disadvantaged students.

BertrandRussell · 05/10/2018 20:22

It’s easy to find out. Just look at the % of pupil premium children. You can also find out whether the area concerned is considered to be one of social deprivation by checking the council website.

Original poster
woodenfences · 05/10/2018 20:23

You misunderstand me. I’m not asking how I find out. I know.

I am wondering if all schools believe they teach in a deprived catchment area.

These claims predate PP by a good seven years!

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 05/10/2018 20:25

Why are you bothered about hat people were saying 10 years ago?

SoyDora · 05/10/2018 20:25

I suppose it doesn’t really matter what teachers believe. Believing it to be the case doesn’t make it so. I guess they just say it to make themselves feel better!

Original poster
woodenfences · 05/10/2018 20:26

I don’t recall saying I was bothered by it. I am wondering if all schools try to insist they have a deprived catchment even if they don’t. That’s it.

OP posts:
twoheaped · 05/10/2018 20:27

The school I work in is in a poor area, we have a number of families who regularly access the food bank.
We have a large number who are fed breakfast with bread that is donated by one of the local bakeries.
So the claim we are in a deprived area is pretty true.
My previous school was in a very affluent area abd didn't claim anything other than that.

Catsatrophe · 05/10/2018 20:30

Omfg. This is mumsnet at its ignorant worst.

TubeTop · 05/10/2018 20:30

5 schools isn't much of a sample.

cookiesandchocolate · 05/10/2018 20:31

Our school had 2 our of 30 in Year 2 class. I would say it's not deprived. Schools only say that if they have valid reasons too

cookiesandchocolate · 05/10/2018 20:31

On pupil premium I mean

Original poster
woodenfences · 05/10/2018 20:35

Five schools all claiming to be in one of the most socially deprived areas of the country? Not really. Plus, every school I’ve encountered has made the same claim.

Catastrophe ?

cookies well no, this is where I disagree. I think schools sometimes exaggerate the social difficulties they have.

OP posts:
Beesandfrogsandfleas · 05/10/2018 20:35

"Schools" neither believe nor proclaim anytime, being buildings. Do you mean headteachers say this, or councils, or every teacher working in a school?

stoplickingthetelly · 05/10/2018 20:38

My school definitely doesn't claim this. Its in a very middle class area/market town. We have very little pupil premium funding so the actual sch is fairly poor, but the kids/parents on the whole are well off.

cardibach · 05/10/2018 20:38

I worked in a school in the middle of a very affluent area and they still insisted some children were deprived
You really can’t understand that this could be true OP? That there could be some deprived pupils in a generally affluent area?

BertrandRussell · 05/10/2018 20:41

The school my ds went to had 38% pp children. I reckon that shows quite a high level of deprivation.

MsMotherOfDragons · 05/10/2018 20:57

If they are saying this then it would be based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation data. Obviously they are bog-standard normal schools; they don't have specially deprived schools for deprived areas. If anything they will be getting more funding via the pupil premium for students who would be eligible for free school meals. I really can't see how you would tell from looking at the school or the students (providing they're in school uniform). It's not like poor people have a particular 'look'.

Original poster
woodenfences · 05/10/2018 21:04

I’m not. Im saying it as someone who worked in them and knows full well they were a far cry from the bleak urban jungle the school insisted they were.

OP posts:
Menolly · 05/10/2018 21:13

I worked in a school in the middle of a very affluent area and they still insisted some children were deprived

Well yeah, because there will be children who are. My youngest siblings go to school in one of the most affluent areas in the south east, they are pupil premium. Thanks to right to buy they live in one of the only council houses left on what is now one of the most sought after roads in the area, just because their neighbours are rich doesn't mean they aren't poor as a church mouse!

GloomyMonday · 05/10/2018 21:15

" I am wondering if all schools try to insist they have a deprived catchment even if they don’t. That’s it."

No they don't. Mine doesn't. None of the four schools I have worked at made that claim.

I don't understand why or how someone would claim this falsely, since the data would easily disprove it.

MsMotherOfDragons · 05/10/2018 21:18

Deprivation isn't just urban.

Cornwall has enormous deprivation yet is also one of the most beautiful places in the country, sought after for second homers. Of course, if your only home is there and you can't get jobs, it's irrelavant.

I guess I'm just saying that poverty and deprivation is a bit more complex than you might think, and a bit less visible. Doesn't mean it isn't real, though, and because schools can measure pupil premium numbers they may be more aware than most.

MsMotherOfDragons · 05/10/2018 21:18
  • irrelevant
Housewife2010 · 05/10/2018 21:20

As a teacher surely you know that it should be "no fewer"?

ohreallyohreallyoh · 05/10/2018 21:29

Pupil premium is a top up for kids who are eligible for free school meals - not sure of the criteria but I think certain benefits and low family income?

No. Pupil Premium is an amount paid to schools for every student who is currently eligible or has been eligible in the past 6 years for free school meals. It is not money that is necessarily spent directly on the child. There are other children eligible including LAC and military children who may or may not have ever been eligible to receive free school meals.

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