Children being treated like prisoners

[User78678]

What is everyone’s thoughts on children not being allowed to talk to or play with children from other classes?
Context….
The school classes were allowed to mix until covid hit and they then had bubbles. The headteacher decided it is easier to control the children and less bother for the teachers if they kept the children in bubbles. So here we are in 2024 and this school is still using covid bubbles.
If a child tries to talk to a child from a class other than their own, they are told off and punished for it. They are not able to make full use of the playground because each class has a small designated space, and they must not cross the “border” or “fraternise at the boundaries” or they will be in trouble. Even if the child has a sibling in another class, they are not allowed to go over and talk or play with them. It’s a two form entry and half of the year group have not seen the other half since 2020, other than in passing, because they are taken out to play at separate times.
The headteacher will not budge on this rule and is happy to keep treating the classes like they are wings in a prison. The children are being denied the opportunity to build friendship making skills because they are kept with the same class and not mixed up each year. They are not able to develop their social skills, and a lot of children in the classes don’t get on because they don’t get any space away from each other but they just have to deal with it. The children in key stage 2 are served lunch in the corridor and have to eat in the classroom. The children in this school don’t know any different, they believe all schools are like this. So you can imagine the shock they have when they go to into high school. I personally know of a child who had to be reassured for months that it was ok to speak to children from other classes and talk to them at break times, because the fear of getting into trouble for talking outside of the classroom boundaries was instilled in him from primary school.

Is it part of an academy trust? I'd be complaining like mad about this tbh. Through the official channels, governors (find the policy on the website).

What area is this school?

This really is a shocking read. I had no idea such a school still operated as if it still were in COVID bubbles

This is insane. Do you have DC at this school?

No it’s a catholic voluntary aided school. Ofsted recently visited and a few parents wrote on the parent surveys that they wasn’t happy about it, a few children was even questioned about it. But they are still being segregated so I guess ofsted doesn’t care. The report isn’t out yet, but rumour is that they lost their outstanding rating to good.

Manchester

That’s totally mad. How weird. I’d be kicking up a fuss!

That's not right at all, how disgusting! The head should ashamed of themselves. Complain complain! Ofsted? Governors? Perhaps you could discuss with other parents and see how they feel for additional support.

i do x

Lots of parents have been unhappy about it for a while, ofsted are aware because we all wrote about it in the parent surveys but clearly nothing was done.

Completely wrong. Why haven't you moved your child to another school?

Oh my goodness, this is extreme. Did someone in the headteacher’s family sadly pass away or get very I’ll from covid? It’s so extreme (and such a lot of effort for them) that I’m wondering if he is actually mentally unwell.
I almost never say this, but I think I would contact ofsted.

And also I don’t think any school does still run like this, I genuinely think that this is the only school that’s still living in 2020.

Write to the mayor? Your MP?
Cant imagine anyone approving of this.

Sorry, I see you’ve written in the surveys already. Go through the complaints process and involve your MP.

Ofsted are aware. A lot of parents complained about it in the parent review form, and a couple of children was asked about the “bubbles” and they told ofsted that they are still in Covid bubbles, but ofsted obviously haven’t done anything about it.
And it is nothing to do with covid now, it just makes the school more “manageable” 🙄

I think this is going to have to be the next step because I personally feel like this is damaging for the children, but by the time the damage is done they will be out of primary school so it will no longer be the headteachers concern.

How weird!

Its a lovely aspect of my children’s school that they’ll come home and say ‘I helped a reception child today’ or ‘we played with x in the year below/above’

For those saying contact OFSTED, they have just had an OFSTED inspection.

Many schools have lost their old outstanding rating as the framework has changed.

Let’s hope they have been advised to change their routine.

Have parents been through the complaints policy? Surely many parents would be voting with their feet and removing their children

I did try but the only decent schools close by have (the last time I checked) 9 children already on the waiting list infront of my child and 11 on the other.

This is truly horrible to read. Ofstead aren’t fit for purpose if they don’t report on this.

assuming you’ve already been to the school governors (and Parish priest if they’re affiliated with the local Catholic Church) I would go to your MP. Repeatedly. And also move schools. It’s ridiculous.

The other decent schools that are close by have long waiting lists.

That is mental! We do OPAL play at my school and so all kids from all year groups play together - good play times are so important for children's well being and can develop a lot of skills children need - this just hinders their development socially and emotionally!

I would seriously look at moving my child if I was able to! Also get MPs, Twitter involved! I know Daily Mail isn't liked on here for valid reasons but I think they would love this story and it would give the school/ trust the kicking they deserve!

The parents who complained are arranging a meeting but we don’t hold much hope of the school changing anything so the next step will be the MP. I just wanted to be sure that it’s not just us that thinks it’s awful and absolutely bizarre the schools running this way. I don’t think a lot of other parents are aware, because they are not being told by their children because the children think this is how school is meant to be.

OFSTED will also have heard from the Head and staff about this. If the Head put forward a reasonable argument for needing this such as being able to demonstrate that there are now fewer behavioural incidents during play time or that bullying had reduced and if the staff body also support it then this will be balanced with parental comments about it. Therefore this one issue will then not impact the inspection.
You also don’t know what the pupils said, if some said they liked it (which some will have) then it’s unlikely OFSTED will view this as so significant that it impacts the school’s outcomes.
Your best route is local complaint routes via the school and governors.

Sorry I meant to add…. They are mixed up in year 6 and regrouped into 3 small classes. If a child is unlucky enough to end up in a different class to their friend who they have only played with since 2020, then they won’t get to talk to or play with them ever again.

The nursery children are together and the separation begins in reception, but reception and key stage 1 are kept in the same playground but have to stay on separate sides.
I can’t begin to imagine how confusing it is to a 4 year old to be separated from their best friend that they’ve spent the first year of school with, to then see them on the other side of the playground and be told they can’t talk to or play with them again…. But if they’re lucky there’s a chance they might end up back with them in year 6 when they barely know each other anymore!