To wonder what has happened to my Son's school

[k2493]

Just posting for thoughts

Both my kids have gone through the same secondary school. When my daughter started, the school was lovely and new with around 750 kids.

Fast forward to 2024 and there is now 1500 kids and it's become like a dictatorship.

Due to the number of kids, the school has put lines either side of the hallway that they have to walk within otherwise they get detention.

Every hallway is a one way system.

The minute they arrive in school, they have to remove their coats or it's detention even with no heating in the middle of winter. The other day my son arrived back to school to find that there were long queues outside while they did two uniform checks at the door. By the time he got in, he was frozen. Immediately he got shouted at for still having his coat on even though he had just stepped in from the cold.

He then went around the corner and got shouted at again even though he tried to explain it's really difficult to be expected to stay warm, keep moving and remove your coat all at the same time. Nope. Threaten with detention again.

AIBU to wonder what has happened to our education system? I'm lucky in that my son is quite strong minded and just brushes it off but what about the kids who's mental health this is impacting? Surely we want our kids to remember school as being enjoyable for their education and friendships rather than for being shouted at every two minutes for not walking between lines or not taking their coats off the minute they arrive in school?

Same, detention after school was almost unheard of. No isolation. Same at Dd's school.

And yes, I think you're right. This is what they think a strict well behaved school is like. But get it really, really wrong.

@Verbena17 Do you really expect schools to teach "how to manage relationships, understand what compound interest is, know how to create a vegetable garden, how to hem trousers etc "
Other than compound interest the rest is a parent's responsibility (although I would also say making sure your child is financially literate is also a parent's responsibility).

It's these kinds of unrealistic and unreasonable expectations where teachers are expected to teach literally EVERYTHING a child needs to be a functional adult that can explain a lot of problems between parents, students and teachers.

Sure you did...

I literally do 😂

It's not like this at all schools. There are still some that aren't like that. If you're lucky enough to get one for your DC.

@AnneValentine well that's exactly why I invited you to share, it would be fantastic.

🤣
and incidentally, shes being taught by her mother (my daughter); who has a degree 👍

Agree. This is exactly what I’ve had to do for my year 8 son. It’s a financial burden home educating, but little choice when school system so poor and no other options.

That's good. Maybe join the lesson about apostrophes.

Mad how the rainbow mafia always refer back to LGBTQ crap. This is not about you

Same at my grammar, but schools aren't bringing in these rules because they are trying to copy what they think private and grammar schools are like. They are doing so because they have a far tougher crowd to manage than selective schools do. It's not a fair comparison.

Are you on the right thread?

Yes had this at my kids' school once it had changed to an Academy, new head.
Children were put in detention and 'solitary confinement' isolation for having the wrong shoes, or trousers.
It's insane!

I detest uniforms, the price of them and the fact it can only be purchased from one supplier. The girls' uniform in particular with an uncomfortable, see-through white cotton shirt.
Prior to academy status there was a comfortable, cheap and practical polo shirt.
Other countries manage quite well without uniforms.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/22/britains-strictest-schools-first-gcse-results-four-times-better/#:~:text=Britain's%20strictest%20school%20has%20received,to%204.5%20per%20cent%20nationwide.

Stricter schools do have higher academic outcomes.

I don’t think people realise how bad behaviour is in school and I think this is schools trying to address this.

Exactly @SequoiaTree it's always unfair to compare any kind of selective school (private, grammer, for the gifted) against one that cannot select.
Also size, location and pupil intake (i.e. income, class, family stability etc) should be comparable.

It's a no-brainer that a smaller school in a stable community with less social and economic problems, in a school district with a generous education budget, is likely to have very different issues than a school 3x as big with less resources.

It's essential to compare like with like.

I think this thread shows that many people might have more respect for schools if they were more like that!

Besides, plenty of people respect education and teachers. But I know many parents are finding their DC's schools harder to respect due to the rise in controlling rules such as not allowing hot DC to take their jumper off.

I'll bet their results are better too!
Is it still a state school?

In my day, the cane wasn't allowed. Teachers managed. The same way the teachers at my Dd's school manage. There is no disruption in her classes. Clearly, the Tories have wrecked education but the struggling schools all going down this strange path is clearly not helping by all the teachers saying they get hit, swore at etc. It's clearly not working. These schools need to look at the schools that are doing well and see what they are doing that is right.

Share what? That an exclusionary approach helps no one? That rather than punishing kids look at the cause of the behaviour. What are they trying to tell you. It’s not rocket science. Teenager needs to wear their coat for a lesson. No problem. If they aren’t engaging in learning that’s a separate issue.

Wouldn't some priority made for lockers help though so coats can be put away when DC arrive at school? Getting the coats right out of the way if they cause so many problems?

These threads make me laugh.

A one way system is sensible in a school otherwise crushes can happen.

Asking students to have only indoor clothes on when indoors, whatever next? Follow rules and be quiet? Goodness!

You all want students to have lovely learning environments, relaxed atmospheres, schools to be fun, but also turn on the schools if there is bullying, someone is injured in the corridors, students get detentions.

If you hate schools so much don't send them, homeschool them and do the amazingly great job yourself. It isn't the law to send them to school, you can always home educate.

If you want to send them to the school, support the teachers and follow the rules or remove them. Don't send them, get free childcare and moan when they instill their own rules.

OP your son sounds defiant and deserves a detention too.

I don't understand how giving after school detention for forgetting a ruler does this?

Taking firm action to manage poor behaviour is fair enough but terrifying good kids and punishing easy to make mistakes is just stupid & counter productive.

Completely different around here. The schools that follow this approach are all the inadequate/requires improvement schools. The schools that do well are the ones that don't follow this. The bad schools seem to be clutching at straws, sadly.

Isolation is actually sitting in a classroom with a few other kids and a teacher doing your work quietly. You have breaks and can speak to the teacher if you need help. It is not exactly torture.

In many schools it is and it can be a useful resource for dealing with pupils being disruptive in class. In other schools it is exactly how the PP described.