Outdoor assemblies in senior school

[serendipity70]

Hi,
So I was just wondering what everyone thinks of this as quite frankly I am a bit stunned! I have 2DC in senior school and after line up and registration in the playground the headteacher performs an outdoor assembly every morning using a huge megaphone whilst the children stand up listening for 20 minutes. Does this sound normal or acceptable? Apparently the megaphone is extremely loud! Seems hugely bizarre to me and I don't really want me child taking part in an outdoor assembly

Meh, schools try different approaches all the time. Wouldn’t be something I’d get worked up about.

My school (in the 1990s too 2000) had one meeting point for fire drills for all 1000 students.

It is 3 school assemblies at the same time in different parts of the school grounds

So one for say, year 7/8, one for 9/10 and one for 11? Feel sorry for the poor buggers if it's absolutely pissing down.

Sounds like what used to happen in PoW camps in old wartime movies.

You’re being obtuse with OP and with me.

We used to have whole school masses outside. It was the only way the whole school could be together.

I can hear the PA system when the local high school has their annual sports day and I live half a mile away.

I wouldn't like to live near that high school.

Why on earth are you sceptical that this is happening?? And why on earth would I lie about this? The school has 3 headteachers not just one and they all carry out outside assemblies at the same time at 3 different locations within the school grounds. Why is this so hard to believe??

Registration is in line before the assembly

I totally agree!!

Sounds a bit North Korea, but nothing surprises me about secondary schools these days. Poor kids.

Yes my DS has complained that the very loud megaphone hurts his ears

What if this procedure actually caused your child immense pain?

Yeah exactly that, I don't think the 6th form has assembly though

Yup! No idea why though or what we have done exactly - I guess some people just like to be keyboard warriors and to have a bit of drama in their mundane lives!

We have outdoor assemblies twice a half term, weather permitting. Outdoors is the only space big enough for the whole school. Students stand in their forms, in rows. Staff also stand. Speakers use a microphone. No-one has ever thought it unusual. They last between 20 and 25 minutes.

This is rude.

School staff go above and beyond every day.

Back in my day we sat on the floor on druggits and had to pack them away after (one form a week).
By y11 we made it into the hall and had to be in early to put the chairs out once a half term. We all stacked them neatly at the end.

Yeah exactly this, it can't be nice for the neighbours

Yeah absolutely - it's completely insane

How the hell would you know that "no-one has ever thought it unusual"? Nice little insight into the thinking behind this sort of nonsense. Treat the kids like unthinking drones for long enough, and you start to believe they really are.

I'm not being a keyboard warrior I was just wondering if you'd got all the facts as it's clearly a very unusual set up with daily outdoor assemblies and. three headteachers. You clearly have all the information you need so logically your next step would be to talk to the school about it if it's causing your child issues.

Unfortunately though it sounds like this is something the school values and I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned. Realistically you're unlikely to get anything changed and you'd probably be better looking for a different school for your children if they are unhappy there.

Does the whole school really need to be addressed at the same time? Could you not have say three different assemblies spread across the week indoors in the warm? Some people have real trouble standing in the same spot for so long (students and staff) Di you also use a megaphone?

Sounds horrid

Well you are being a keyboard warrior by saying that you were sceptical of what I was saying to be true and that you found it very hard to believe. You were also being very antagonising as one would when they want to start an argument. I have indeed got all the facts right and they are real. I just wanted to see what everyone else thought. I have contacted the school to express my concern thank you

Yeah I thought the same