Is anyone really happy with their primary school?

[changer22]

DH and I were talking about our DC's school the other day and came to the conclusion that it is at best mediocre and at worst, damaging.

We have one DC who is pretty bright, very sociable and happy who we thought would just love school. She is doing fine but the spark seems to be fading already.

We have another who has dyslexia and still can't read or write independently at 7. His self esteem is low and he is really struggling. Some days he goes off to school without protest but other days we feel really bad about sending him.

The NC topics seems pretty boring (food - health and safety, music - high notes low notes) and the teachers weary.

The school is well regarded and is in an affluent middle class town.

We just hoped it would be so much better than this for them but I don't know whether we are unlucky or expecting too much.

paddyclamp a teacher's pay is really not what it should be.

A primary teacher starts at about £21k. It's not anywhere near enough for the job they are asked to do.

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

Yes. By and large. I have concerns about DS#2 but I suspect those are down to DS rather than the school. And they are addressing that atm.

We were desperately unhappy with our primary for DS1.
We felt it had its highs and lows for DS2.
We are very happy with the same primary for DD.

This may show:
that the same school can be great or dire for different children,
that teachers mellow over the years,
that we are now more confident parents who work as a team with the school
or
that we are past caring and just let the youngest get on with life.

Probably a mixture!

Our school, not bad enough to move them but certainly not worth the hype. mediocre school and staff bolstered by parents trying to do the best for there kids. would I choose it again . No. Probibly not but you dont truely know till you are on the inside.

I am happy with education side of things and they promote all cultures and religions with no emphasis on one particular one, which I like.

The schools attitude to sickness and absence irritate me though. Dd1 had a lot of time off last year due to a bowel condition. Most of the time was due to medical appointments, although she also had chicken pox and a very bad bout of dirroreah/sickness, which upped the % of time off she had a lot. I felt the school thought I just couldn't be bothered to take her. We were put on a special report and had to have weekly visits from the attendance officer, who admitted herself that it was uneccassary, but had to come as the school had instructed her to. This was despite the fact that they had a letter from her specialist explaining her condition and the reasons for all her appointments.

This year they sent the school/parent liason officer out for one day off who told me she hoped that we 'weren't going to have a repeat of last year' and tried to get me to sign up for a parenting course, because of the behavior issues dd1 had last year. Completely ignorant of the fact that dd1 had problems last year because she had to learn, not only that people she loves can die, but that children can die, and mums can die and leave their young dc behind. Needless to say she wasn't keen on going to school after that, she was understandably worried that me or sister would die while she was out.

They also seemed to have a habit of losing children last year . One 8 year old was found hiding in a cuboard while they should have been with the class doing p.e on the school field and another was found wandering in the local park near the manmade stream He was 5!!!

I am satisfied with my DCs school in terms of how happy they are to go there and the nice thigs they do that I did not have when I was little (school trips, beautiful playground...) but I must say DH and I get increasingly worried with the fact we do not feel the Dcs are pushed enough to give it their best.

When they do their home work, I will check on them every now and then and ask them "are you sure this is the right spelling?" or "Why such beaytiful handwritting for the first 2 sentences and not the rest?" I do compliment them as well, do not get me wrong but I think in school they just let them be too much (never correct spellings for one thing).

DD1 is bright (not G&T) but her spelling is appalling, not because she is an idiot but because she sees no point in writing correctly if "the teacher understands anyway". I really wish the teachers would see past the frequency words to the bigger picture: one day they will have to write more than just frequency words.

Maybe this it is more a problem of the school system all together than my dcs school really, I do not know.

I just mentioned the pay because of paddyclamp's post.

I know there areother jobs that are less well-paid, but I still think that the pay is not enough to tempt highly-skilled and educated people from their positions in industry where they are maybe earning £30k or much more, to retrain as teachers and give our children the benefit of their skills and experience.

The issue of teachers not enjoying their job is totally separate I agree and needs to be addressed as well.

Message withdrawn

Our school has been one of the "well regarded" schools which in reality is quite pedestrian & dull with high expectations on the parents tutoring their kids to overcome stale teaching.

We are hoping that with a new change of leadership this may change. Would I choose the same school again - no way!

A friend of mine who is a teacher, believes that once a school receives an ofsted outstanding the quality of education gets worse.
This was certainly the case with DD's school!
We were lucky enough to find a fantastic local prep with space for her in September and so far she is like a different child
Sad that we have had to pay to get it though, as I know many kids at DD's old school that would be SO happy at the prep!

We are really happy with our DC's school. They both adore school and are thriving there. Obviously it has its faults and weaknesses but it ticks pretty much all our boxes and we're confident that they're getting a really good education.

I loved my primary school and now the dd's go there and love it too.It is a small village school and the children are encouraged to look out for each other,so there is no being frightened of the older bigger children.The classes are small,educational and behaviour standards are high,teachers enthusiastic and there is a very wide curriculum,with music and French taught from Reception onwards.A lot of parents go in to read with the children,go on trips,bring in animals ect.We couldn't be happier with the school and realize that we are very lucky.

I am exceptionally happy with ds1's. It has the best reputation for miles and miles. the head is fab. the ethos is so incredibly beautiful. teachers fab. ds loves it.
it is catholic. it is fab. best thing i ever did getting him int there.
i am not catholic, btu dh is and his family.
it has been even better than we expected. and i expected alot.

i am struggling to think of a negative.
oh yes, they keep asking for money. for this for that. gets on my nerves. and slips of paper in bags advertising swimming lessons , football classes, spanish classes. gets on my nerves. thats it.
very minor.

yes, very happy with the one my dcs go to. They love it, the school brings out the best in them, has lots to offer and I look forward to my youngest going there when he's old enough

Pretty happy with ds's, though it's not perfect. Definitely not lacklustre though.

Very concerned to hear of your dcs experience. Hope you can find a solution.

I am really happy with aspects of it but it's a bit early to tell. I love the way the older ones look after the younger ones and all the kids get to know each other as it's small.
I love the way the TAs and teacher seem to genuinely care for ds even though there are 29 others and presumably they care of all of them fairly equally.

I love the location of the school, ds adores the food he gets.

Some concerns about the amount of praying that goes on though .