To think this head teacher is off her rocker

[Atlantisen]

This was the newsletter. Inspiring? Or utter bollocks??

*"...All too often schools accept a gap between some students and other students. We can fall into a trap that comes to accept or simply gets used to some children dressing differently, missing more days of school, speaking to adults or one another incorrectly, being a few minutes late to everything, carelessly presenting their work, not completing homework, not giving 100% in their lessons, not reading any books for pleasure, not joining clubs at school, never seeking to play for a school team, never appearing in a school performance or never attending a revision booster.

Labelling such behaviours or choices is pointless or indeed stigmatising those students who display some or all of these characteristics. At CNS we have to regard these as symptoms of an underlying lack of ambition, expectation or aspiration. Whilst we have to be unrelenting in our demand for all students to be their best self, we also need to get to the very heart of why some students are more engaged than others – seeking to rekindle the fire within and not beneath.

Creating a school that expects and demands high expectations in all things of all students is a continuous quest and one that we shall be emphasising at all times. ..."*

It’s the sort of thing that gets my (engaged, prompt, organised) dd feeling ‘like I’m just a number to them Mum’. Everyone needs to find their niche in their school and wider community, and its just guff to want everyone to be the same. The best schools are the ones that notice individual passions, ambitions and interests and encourage and coax involvement in those interests.

I know a head teacher who would write something like this.
She refuses to make or allow reasonable adjustments for children with additional needs.
She has implemented an attendance awards system that literally humiliates children who have a lot of medical appointments.
She spends the SEN budget on things updating classroom technology (not SEN targeted).
She blames every challenge faced by children in school on poor parenting and bad behaviour.
I have heard her tell an autistic child she didn't want little boys like him in her school.
She tells prospective parents of children with additional needs that her school cannot meet those needs and the other primary down the road is much better at it.
She constantly justifies this disability discrimination as having high expectations of all pupils.
Her school is currently Ofsted outstanding which I find appalling.

goldmandra that sounds like the head of the school I removed DS (SEN) from.

She could just stick with "seeking to rekindle the fire within and not beneath" and explain how they plan on doing that.

gony make sure youre kids can behave and follow age appropriate instructions.in short?

Has not got the art of summary.
I bet she writes reams on every Christmas Card she sends out too.

It reminds me of a quote from the film Ladybird.

Mother: I just want you to be the best version of yourself.

Ladybird: Maybe this is the best version of myself.

Is this an underperforming school that they are trying to turn around

I don’t think she’s outlining that the school has the expectation that children come to school to learn, should always try their hardest (doesn’t say should achieve greater depth across all areas so no indication of SEND discrimination at all), should show good manners and be involved in extra curricular activities.

Sounds great!
A school not just seeking to get kids to pass exams- woo hoo sign me up.
Extra curricular=growing the whole child, nurturing talents beyond applying subordinate clauses and prime numbers.
Sounds to me like the school has an issue with families that don’t support children’s holistic development and is seeking to kick them up the bum. Good for her.

Look at private schools- their sports teams, music appreciation, debating teams, dance and art opportunities.... why are private school educated adults so successful?? Because they have this exposure and their self confidence, skills and achievements are obvious.

Those claiming SEND discrimination- actually, I think these children will benefit the most from this ethos!

Goldmandra I removed my child for exactly the same reasons. Disgraceful, disgusting attitude.

@Looking, “Those claiming SEND discrimination- actually, I think these children will benefit the most from this ethos!”

How? Seriously how?

Wow, where is this excellent school? High expectations lead to high achievement in my experience. Even though high achievement means different things for everyone. Those with SEN are different but should still be encouraged to be the best they can be! I took my children out of a school where a teacher told me: "our school is about getting all children up to a certain level".

Those claiming SEND discrimination- actually, I think these children will benefit the most from this ethos!

Only if they have the funding to support the manpower needed for the kids with SN to get to the club. It's not much fun having you mum come along with you when you hit secondary....

Or if they can magically make my DC's consultants appointments at about 6pm in the evening so we can travel the 2-3 hours it takes to get there and still attend a full day of school.

Otherwise it's just a another stick to tell parents of kids with SN that's it's all their fault their kids are failing...

Can kids with SEN not want to be the best they can be, whatever form that takes? Not have ambition? Aspiration? Not dream to be whatever they want to be?

I have a child with SEN; she still has aspirations and dreams. It's up to me, her dad and her school to help support her to realise those as much as is practicable. And I think that's what this message is - support your children in their aspirations, no matter what they are.

If kids aspirations are just going to be dismissed by parents/schools then how does that make that child feel? Worthless.

Goldmandra - but this head teacher is not saying any of this. I read it as her saying you mustn't write kids off as worse or less engaged therefore not worth bothering with. She's saying the opposite - "we also need to get to the very heart of why some students are more engaged than others". Wouldn't this apply to all pupils - SN or not?

I've had teachers that didn't expect much, so didn't get much in response. It still makes my blood boil thinking of how some of my 'education' time was wasted by low expectations from some teachers. Surely it's up to the teachers to bring out the best in a kid. I know that as a teenager not having to make an effort where it wasn't required was fab - why waste valuable time to study when I don't need to?

Sounds good. I don't think she's off her rocker at all.

But, The reasons why someone is not engaged are often complex, esteem, problems at home. Is she going to address those too? How?

I don't see the problem. I would assume SEN children are not the target of the letter. It's just a slightly verbose way of saying they want all students to work hard and to be ambitious and engaged in all facets of school life. How is that a bad thing?

I too think some posters are focusing too much on SEN. I do have an SN child.

what she is saying about core attitude and effort can apply to and should apply to everyone, even/including/and/especially SN children.

I didn’t read this is aimed at SEND kids - many SEND kids do get involved in school life. I think it’s a vague blow aimed at families who don’t support their kids to do well at school. If combined with a poor attitude to Sen then I’d find it concerning but this alone seems standard ‘high expectations’ rubric. Not sure this message will actually have much of an impact seeing as it’s so long though!

If a school is inclusive of its kids with additional needs, then it’s newsletters and mission and ethos MUST refer to them! Otherwise those kids are literally left out, not addressed, not referred to, and “othered.”

I teach in a school for boys with social, emotional and mental health needs. The vast majority are also from disadvantaged backgrounds (for example we have a PP rate of 87% and a significant number in care).

“we also need to get to the very heart of why some students are more engaged than others – seeking to rekindle the fire within and not beneath.”

This is what my colleagues and I spend all day every day doing.

The rest of it is wordy bollocks that will put off the very parents the Head is trying to reach.

At CNS we have to regard these as symptoms of an underlying lack of ambition, expectation or aspiration
No it doesn’t mean those children have no ambition etc. They may have SEN, or might dress differently because their home circumstances mean they don’t get clothes bought, their home life might be chaotic, they might not have money or parental support to attend clubs, they might be introverted and not want to play team sports or be in drama productions, etc. None of those things are necessarily the child’s fault and I find it disgusting to label those kids as having no ambition or aspiration.

Of course kids with SEN can have ambition and aspirations - but the problem is when you’re told what they should be, AND that those things are mostly inaccessible.

Terribly worded and not really 'parent friendly' speak but I do think she has the right idea. We need to have higher expectations of our students.

My son has SEN, but I must say I quite like her attitude! Seems in in a minority though which is fair enough.