To ask for opinions on super strict schools

[WhichWitchWay]

Can I ask please for opinions on super strict schools like the Ark academies or Michaela Community school etc. If anyone has any experience of their children going to these types of schools, I’d love to get your feedback.

My DC's school is pretty strict (Private)
I didn't realise it was anything other than standard until I heard DS talking to his friends from another school and heard what they can get away with compared to him. They were horrified but he's very happy at school.
I am also a Governor at another State school and sit on the exclusions panel, we keep kids who would have been expelled several times over at my sons school - but its much easier to expell at Private in my experience.

Is this feedback to help you decide if your child should attend a 'super strict school'?

I probably would have been okay at one as a kid as I was a rule-following teacher's pet, but tbh as an adult I think they sound like crazy boot camps a lot of the time.

Yes, got to decide very imminently on first choice school for DS. He’s well behaved, engaged in his learning and likes a calm atmosphere but don’t know if it’s too restrictive. Other option is a few private schools that are a lot more relaxed

I can see selective private schools seeming 'strict', in that there isn't really any window of opportunity to misbehave. Like if you were disruptive they'd just kick you out?
I have experience of both. But I don't think giving kids rules that aren't even applicable in the world of work is particularly helpful. You should be making learning seem enjoyable and interesting, not like a punishment.

I used to teach at one and it was bloody intense hard work (lots of teacher burnout and high turnover) but also amazing teachers. Poor/dangerous behaviour from some students despite the majority being great kids.

I've since moved to another school and although the overall behaviour and climate is better (it's also a single sex school which might help), there's a lot of instances of behaviour not being dealt with when it could be, inconsistencies across the school, it seems like entitlement among students is higher (eg making a formal complaint against a teacher after being given a detention for legitimate disruption and this being fully entertained by SLT).

I have to say, I wouldn't send my child to an Ark or Harris academy. I think often they're schools that were underperforming, have needed to be turned around, and while there is a lot of investment in children's learning, I think the overall climate is not one I'd want my child in, regardless of how the school can perform for Ofsted. Think teachers being physically attacked. I think at a strict academy chain, you see very high expectations of all children including teachers managing to really raise grades for reluctant kids with no support for their education at home and many factors working against them. My DH and I are lucky to be well educated, have the time and resources to spend supporting with homework, reading, extra curriculars and general cultural capital, and would prefer our children to be in a calmer environment where we can be confident that they'll exceed if we support them ourselves to work hard.