To think that After School Detention these days is classed as more serious than in our time.

[Georgianattiude]

When I went to school some 30 years ago after school detentions were seen as nothing really. These days they tend to involve SLT's taking them, letters home follow ups about the Pupils conduct and it requires a pupil to generally have misbehaved quite badly to get one.

The difference in approach or meaning of after school detention, can be compared with my 20 or so through my secondary schooling and DD1s who is in year 11 1. DD 1 was distraught when she got a after school detention in year 10 whereas my year group used to laugh and actively seek to be the first one to acquire one. It sounds silly but an a after school detention was seen as a badge of honour with the highest value going to the girl with the most. This was by the way a Girls Grammar in the late 1980s early 1990s, so not really difference from DDs1 current school inn character.

However, DD2 year 9 goes to a non grammar school where there does appear to be a group of girls who get regular detentions . These girls have dragged DD2 in to detention on three occasions because she thinks its cool to engage with their stupidity at times.

Therefore, are detentions today seen more of a serious sanction today, than when they were given out by bored teachers who had to stay late. This was said to me and four friends one day in Physics!

Nope. I'd say the opposite. When I was at a comprehensive (late 80's) detentions were a hugely big deal.

Nowadays DDs' super selective grammar in an average suburb gives them out willy nilly. Rolled up skirt/lanyard not visible/2 mins late/blah blah. I think they're pointless. The girls care not one jot.

Opposite experience. They were practically unheard of when I was at my secondary in the 90s. However they are very common at the local schools to us now and not a massive deal.

@CesareBorgia It's a mixed through school.

I was wondering if the 'not cool' thing was 'not cool to the opposite sex'! Spending a day entertaining younger children, if not concerned about coolness, could be quite a pleasant change from normal routine.

Unheard of when I was at high school in the 90’s, break detention yes there were some of those usually for not doing homework. Both dc have been to the same high school and never had an after school detention either.

I'm a secondary school teacher in a challenging school. We've had different systems but current one is centralised e.g they accrue detentions based on behaviour points. It ranges from 20 mins to 90 mins depending on how many in a day. In my over 20 years of teaching, I don't think anyone has seen them as a badge of honour. What is different is parents intervening to try to get detentions cancelled/ say their kid can't do it. I was at school in the 90s and that didn't happen then!

At dd's school they get after school detention if they're late three times in a term. Other stuff too I should think but dd has never had one for behaviour only lateness one term. It pissed me off really because she's autistic and has to be driven to and from school in rush hour traffic so it's not like she has any control over arriving on time but I gritted my teeth and didn't complain because rules are rules I guess 🙄

So no I don't think after school detention is more serious now. I remember being terrified of getting one when I was at school because I knew my mum would flip out but I don't see that attitude amongst the parents I know now.