My ds just entered Y1 in state primary school. He is a sporty, NT, averagely intelligent child. We can afford private school but the state school is a ten minute walk and we have many friends who go there.
My problem is, behaviour. My ds is easily distracted and he is no angel. There is a lot of “low level” disruption and aggression in his Year 1 class. The LA for the school has been “captured” by an education specialist who believes “undesirable behaviours” should only receive mild sanction and prefer to discourage by talking things out and handing out rewards for improved behaviour. Whilst I agree these tactics can help, I also believe in setting crystal clear behavioural boundaries, labelling unacceptable behaviour as such, and giving sanctions for crossing the line into poor behaviour. I want my ds and all the pupils held to account for a minimum standards of behaviour. End of story. And if there is SEN then that STILL cannot be an excuse for punching someone in the face, or dislocating someone’s shoulder when you have a fight in the loos during class time (yes, both happened in my DD’s Y6 class at this school- I fear my son will end up becoming like one of these little thugs and I’m terrified of that future.)
Will I find that in a private school, with a smaller class, the staff don’t tolerate peer-on-peer biting, punching, spitting, kicking, calling people names, ripping up their work, pouring water on their work, poking and irritating, repeatedly using unkind names AT ALL at ANY age? I want a school where this immediate warrants a report to parent and a behaviour sanction eg lose some break time.
I just don’t want my ds growing up in a school where it’s “okay” to mess about a lot or behave horribly or violently.
Overall has private sector become as fluffy as state sector? Where can I find an education provider who requires ALL children to behave and not turn “feral”?