What annoys you about state schools?

[NormaJeanBaker]

Just in the interests of balance...

What annoys me about state schools? The huge negative mythology that surrounds them!

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I teach in a school which is pretty much the exact opposite of Twinset's in many ways. Built on an industrial estate. Buildings very dated. Lots of challenging children from difficult backgrounds.

But we do a good job with them and for them. We add value. And not just in the education-speak sense.

It is a good school. Can't compare or compete with the independents, or even school like Twinset's.

But it is a good school.

One size fits all education and the other kids

are we talking about primaries or secondaries here? (I know its posted on primary board)

What do I like about state schools?

The passion of some of the teachers like Twinset

TheFallenMadonna

The best teachers i have known are those that i have worked alongside in schools with high level of local deprivation.

As long as staff morale is high the school will succeed imo.

Twinset - good on you.

Bloss I have addressed most of your points, we have outstanding music facilites in our new purpose built arts block. We often have visiting musicians or theatre companies because our facilities are so good.

I always mark and return homeowork usually within a week sometimes if I am snowed under a fortnight.

Low academic standards is insulting to me and my wonderful students

Zanzibarmum - it was a joke. Please see my post on What annoys you about independent schools? . And, sadly, that mother lives about a mile away from me and, although I don't know her personally, she is not unusual...

Fallen Madonna I have also worked in very tough schools, was a head of year in one until very recently. We had very dedicated staff and did a fabulous job for those children from difficult backgrounds.

LaLalonglegs - apologies; obviously your sense of humour was too subtle for me. You are right that attitude seems to be common -

there are 21 kids in my dss class and he is in the local comp!

I know you did Twinset and I wasn't sniping at you at all. It's just that while people may not want a particular school for their child for the reasons I gave (and TBH it's a pretty miserable location for a pretty dilapidated school), it doesn't follow that that school is bad, that it isn't doing a good job for it's pupils, and that the staff are lazy and uninspiring

I know you werent I just thought it was important that people realised that I am passionate about the state sector ful stop, not just because I now teach in such a wonderful school.

I know there are state schools that our not great and I would not want my dd going to but there are also poor independent schools. But there are wonderful state schools and I hate how parents are scaremongered into the independent sector.

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I am not taking it peronally, I am just presenting the other side.

Bloss wish you could spend a day with me in my school and it would restore your faith.

I you wanted to see where I teach it is a dorset secondary school , non church that is the same name as the village it is in , two words L M*** or you can CAT me.

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I know it doesn't bloss and one of the reasons we were happy to move was because the secondary schools were disapointing both for me as a teacher and for dd. DD was supposed to be starting a public prep school in Lancashire this sept but I can hand on heart say that I would send my dd to my school over the independent school that had given her a place.

I just wanted to make the point that there are good state schools, we are very lucky here, there are other secondaries that are considered to be better than the one I teach in, but it depends on what you are looking for and there is the grammar option.

I am really sorry bloss and hope I do not come across as smug.

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I know you are not sniping, you are a parent who wants the best for your child. We were going to live like hermits and rely on family to send dd to an independent school and it was a decision that broke my heart.

Can you not move?

Blimey I thought not many people would respond - more fool me.

I was let down by the state system - bright and bored - and moved to private which worked well for me. DH was at public school - boarding - which let him down and all his lasting friendships have been from the comprehensive he moved to when he was 15. We are moving out of the bit of London we can afford to live in so we can send our children to a state primary where they might have a better chance of getting some attention from the over stretched staff. Might do independent for secondary if we win thousands of pounds. Have good and bad experiences of both and, as most do, want the best we can find for our children within our means and would HE if we wouldn't make it work any other way and school made them unhappy. Feel very sorry for bloss - I was a child who went off learning until my parents crippled themselves financially to pay half the fees of a private school. It was worth it for me. Hope you find a way to do what you feel you have to do.

the horror, the horror

The fact that the children can't sing Christmas Carols at Christmas. (This is NZ.)