The straw that broke the camel's back

[Smileyduck]

Have you ever changed your child's school because you weren't happy with it? If so, what was the straw that broke the camel's back. Have you lived to regret the decision or was it the best think you ever did for your child.

For context, i have not been happy since reception, now Y2. Low expectations, daily diet of twinkl worksheets. Not believing DC does his homework independently (I always annotate anything I have helped him with) because it's better than what he produces at school. Just don't know whether he will get a better shot at education elsewhere.

Yes changed and it worked out well.

I am thinking of moving my dd she is 10 in Y5. Last nights parents evening sort of made my mind up It went like this...DD is copying work so we (both teachers) have observed this so they cannot give me a mark on her progress in maths as they do not know if she is handing in her work or copied work from the boy in the next seat to her. I asked what they were doing ,had they spoken to dd about this or moved her seats NO nothing they are just observing! err ok, Her spellings were rubbish, She needs to down load an app and practice spellings. Her punctuation is terrible she doesnt use commas because she is just lazy. She coldnt have house points for a project because they didnt belive she did what she did. I can catagorically assure them she did, Negative all along nothing positive at all. I genuinely believe and i am not one of those parents but it seemed like they were talking about a different child.I am all for teachers being honest and I welcome that but this was another level.A child called lazy,called a liar well I dunno.I give in Looking at my options now as we speak,

I find those comments amazing. They can always give tests to children and move them around. It’s also quite normal for small groups of DC to work together in the class and then be allocated work to do individually. Why would the boy let her copy anyway?

This also shows a Head who isn’t insisting on assessment information being put into their monitoring system or meaningful information being given to parents. I would be writing to the head asking for an explanation of their position on regular assessment, planning work based on assessment and why they are incapable of having progress information for you in March! It’s truly awful practice.

As for accusing you of lying: I’ve seen that a lot. It’s their fault for setting projects. They are lazy and don’t necessarily build on the taught curriculum. They can be useful for showing DC how to research in books and on the web but they don’t, and cannot, inform them about progress.

Yes. Move. That sounds like a total shambles. Is this meant to be a good school?

We moved DS at the end of year 3 and wish we'd done it sooner. He loves the new school and is much happier there so just do it if you think it will help.

Oh, and he hasn't had worms since he moved!

@TizerorFizz

I find those comments amazing. They can always give tests to children and move them around. It’s also quite normal for small groups of DC to work together in the class and then be allocated work to do individually. Why would the boy let her copy anyway?

This also shows a Head who isn’t insisting on assessment information being put into their monitoring system or meaningful information being given to parents. I would be writing to the head asking for an explanation of their position on regular assessment, planning work based on assessment and why they are incapable of having progress information for you in March! It’s truly awful practice.

As for accusing you of lying: I’ve seen that a lot. It’s their fault for setting projects. They are lazy and don’t necessarily build on the taught curriculum. They can be useful for showing DC how to research in books and on the web but they don’t, and cannot, inform them about progress.

Yes. Move. That sounds like a total shambles. Is this meant to be a good school?

It was meant to be a good school.Its an Academy school and I feel beyond well I would say disappointed but also incredulous.The copying incident when I spoke to my dd she said she doesnt do that,She had asked her friend how to do something and he talked her through it.She said he helped her.I asked her to put her hand up and ask the teacher next time to avoid confusion! She was really upset at the suggestion, She said she often helps him if he cant read words,she tells him what the word is,So it seems like a normal situation to me of kids helping eacch other along so to speak., I am just stunned at the vitriol used last night,Kind of knocked me off my feet! I accept she should shut up and chatter less I accept she should ask for help if she needs it what I cannot accept is her being called lazy and a liar. Not a word of what she is good at at all,not a word on anything positive to build on, I object strongly to the liar and lazy remarks but was too flabberghasted to say anything.

I simply don’t understand where the teachers are coming from. They really should have strategies in place to stop chatting and it’s normal to work in a small group or with a partner. If they are concerned about what she can do, they should get a TA into the class and see who is doing what when the DC work together. They are being very one dimensional in their methods and views. Just set them tests if they cannot work out who can do what.

My DD1 was called out as a liar in assembly in front of the whole school. She was said to have forged my signature on a permission document about handling money at the school fair. She was in y6. I had signed the document - rather stupidly on the ironing board. However they didn’t check and told 360 children that she forged my signature. She cried in assembly and was told by a teacher “that’s what happens to children like her”. Her friends knew she would never do that. She had been in the school for 4 years. She came out of school crying and surrounded by half the class! One boy told me “we all know Tizer DD wouldn’t do that - I would!”. How come the teachers didn’t ask me? How come they didn’t trust her? Anyway the camel’s back was broken. Moved DD2. Neither DD1 nor I got an apology. I asked the Head to apologise to DDTizer in front of the whole school. They didn’t. Just appalling. You have to leave when teachers are this bad.

She cried in assembly and was told by a teacher “that’s what happens to children like her”. Her friends knew she would never do that.

Holy fuck
That's horrific

Yes we moved DS because he was getting bullied. It was classic/textbook bullying, including physical assault and humiliation. Head teacher did nothing. Basically repeated "nothing to see here" line.

He's never been happier at his new school it's lovely and there aren't any bullies.

@TizerorFizz

I simply don’t understand where the teachers are coming from. They really should have strategies in place to stop chatting and it’s normal to work in a small group or with a partner. If they are concerned about what she can do, they should get a TA into the class and see who is doing what when the DC work together. They are being very one dimensional in their methods and views. Just set them tests if they cannot work out who can do what.

My DD1 was called out as a liar in assembly in front of the whole school. She was said to have forged my signature on a permission document about handling money at the school fair. She was in y6. I had signed the document - rather stupidly on the ironing board. However they didn’t check and told 360 children that she forged my signature. She cried in assembly and was told by a teacher “that’s what happens to children like her”. Her friends knew she would never do that. She had been in the school for 4 years. She came out of school crying and surrounded by half the class! One boy told me “we all know Tizer DD wouldn’t do that - I would!”. How come the teachers didn’t ask me? How come they didn’t trust her? Anyway the camel’s back was broken. Moved DD2. Neither DD1 nor I got an apology. I asked the Head to apologise to DDTizer in front of the whole school. They didn’t. Just appalling. You have to leave when teachers are this bad.

That is absolutely shocking, your poor daughter.

@robin20009. @Circumferences

Well I knew the school had its issues but I didn’t expect that. DD was always well behaved and all the DC respected her. I didn’t quite understand what had happened initially. A teacher came out of school just before collection time clutching the permission form. She asked if it was my signature. I said yes. I said I signed it in a rush. She said “Oh”. That’s all she said. 5 minutes later out comes sobbing DD surrounded by a huge gaggle of children. She had tried to tell them it was my signature but she was told not to lie. I was so angry. I didn’t get a reply from the head. I just decided some of the teachers were the equivalent of witches. I still don’t understand why they didn’t ring me. However that was the last straw.

6 months later i also learned they had not provided DD with a reference requested by her next school. They were just awful. I should have complained but I didn’t. Just removed DD2.

@TizerorFizz - I’d still be tempted to chase that now and to report to the local authority and possibly Ofsted. There is no way on earth I’d let that lie. Your poor DD!

We moved part way into yr 2. Bullying wasn’t being addressed and it was simply destroying my DD. The new school has been amazing and transformed my child who is now very secure with friendships.

@Foolsrule
It’s too long ago now. But it happened and I still find it amazing how dreadful some teachers are. I think you are blessed if DC can go through school and be happy with everyone. At the time her own class teacher was great. However it’s a difficult judgement to make regarding removing your child. Have other schools got spaces? How far will you need to travel? I made it a lot more difficult for myself when we removed DD2.

We drive alot further now after moving ours from their previous school. It is hard at times but id rather put ourselves out and have a happy child.

We have met parents over the years who will keep complaining about a school but then wont move them ?