No school uniform and pupils call teachers by their first name

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We've put an offer in on a house that's in the catchment area for a good school that's very popular with the local parents. I think one of the reasons for its popularity is it is seen as a learning environment that suits creative children - no school uniforms, teachers are called by their first names.

DH and I are a bit more traditional in our thinking - I would prefer dd to go to a school that is a bit more formal and structured. We're not artists or musicians and I don't think dd's interests lean that way - she seems pretty academic.

Please tell me about your experiences (positive or negative) of informal schools and how your child has fared at one.

My kids went to a uniform - free school and everyone was called by their first names.

Why is that such a big thing for tiny 5 year olds, 7 year olds? What is it about a uniform and formal address that supposedly makes such tiny children learn better, I wonder?

Our school was brilliant. Really good academic standards. Really good discipline. You know, like in a well run home, where behaviour is good and everyone (shock horror!) wears their own clothes and uses first names or informal terms like 'Mum'. But that was the thing: there was a great ethos of 'family' within the school, mutual respect and support. They did very well in the league tables, and had a very mixed (aka including challenging) demographic intake.

It cannot be possible that in a state school in E London that the majority, or even a big minority of musicians and creatives send their kids to one particular primary school. Though there may well be a good representation.

All schools have to teach the same curriculum and prepare kids for the same SATS tests and standards.

Wearing the same identikit polyester sweatshirt will not improve your child's chances of success.

The Sutton Trust research conforms that uniform wearing has no positive bearing on either discipline or academic standards.

Oops: Zombie Thread!!!!

My DCs are heading to a secondary where they call the teachers by their first names. I wasn't sure how it would work, but having spoken to pupils and teachers there I would second hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman's comment about it being about love of learning. The teachers are enthusiastic about their subjects and about making sure each individual is treated as such.

When I went to primary (not so long ago!) No unof and addressing primary teachers by their first names was the norm, or at least I believed it to be so. How times have changed,everywhere has uniform now.

I quite like the uniform though. I think it is a great leveller (all children dressed the same regardless of parental income) and removes fuss about what they are wearing.

You're making some big assumptions that because of teenagers and uniform the school isn't academic and us only for arty types. All schools have to follow the national curriculum!
My niece went to a school in East London with no uniform and teachers could decide what they wanted to be called. It was a very good school.

Go and visit and find out more, look in detail at the results and ofsted reports.

Does its name begin with a D or an L OP?!

If you name it you can get some informed opinions. My dss both went to Dallington and I can tell you something about that. But there are lots of verythromycin different primary schools - state and private I E London. Charterhouse Square is more yiur trad uniform etc sort of place...

Tell us which school - D or L?! You'll get informed opinions then. My you dss went to D.

Sorry - thought first post had disappeared!

ds went to a first names school, although there was a uniform, and I work in a secondary school with no uniform, but Sir and Miss. I wouldn't think either would be a problem.
Ds transfered to a Sir and Miss senior school with no problem.
If you like the feel of the school and the way lessons are taught etc etc, then don't let uniform or teachers names put you off.

Many of the state primary schools in my area in North London are non uniform - (not the church schools though) - with the odd exception. The school that my kids attend is non uniform and teacher first names. I don't see how this has any correlation to whether a school is academic or not. I would say that ours certainly is.

In most European countries, schools don't have uniform and teachers are called title + first name.

Just realised it's a zombie thread.