One Thing That Your DCs School Does That Should Be Done By Every School?

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What one thing does your DCs school do that really works for the students?

Me: lots of high quality music, drama, sport, trips

Not sure how they do it, but they have something called bullybusters who are children others can go to of there is a problem.
Also bullies seem to be dealt with quickly, put into ALE and on report, parents bought in etc.
There just seems to be an atmosphere that bullying is not tolerated.

Also there is a report bullying button on the website or they can fill in a form.

DS1 (12) starts a new High School tomorrow. I am so excited that there is Vertical Tutoring. He fears the big kids-so that should help massively.

Plus he will have a locker. After 9 months of lugging stuff from lesson to lesson.

Ds's school had an allotment and an outdoor campfire area as well as a pond. I quite like that.

Yep - vertical tutor groups work really well 11-14 comp

Also really great 'topic week' before each half term when the timetable is ripped up and they get to study China, health or 'thinking' or money etc for a week with input from each subject area bt in a fun way.

Let's you drop your DCs off at 8.35am meaning I can catch the 9.06am train.

A dislike of vertical tutoring here. DS1 and DD both have experience of year group tutoring. They both preferred that. Vertical tutoring does nothing at all for 6th formers. School is going to do 6th form only forms now. If there is vertical tutoring it is very difficult for the older pupils to discuss matters in PDW as their experience is completely different from a Y7.

My sons' prep 4-13 has vertical groups based on school houses once a week which means all the young ones know some of the older boys. They do team projects as well so they all get used to working accross age groups and the older boys get some leadership experience. They also have year group tutoring.

There is a message box where the boys can leave a note for the teachers e.g. about bullying. I helped DS1 draft a note when he had a problem with one boy and it really made a difference to him that he could do something about the problem without having to directly approach a teacher (he was afraid of other people seeing). The note was acted on and the problem has now stopped.

Teachers who sometimes play football with the boys at break and organised snowman building when it snowed etc.

What a fascinating educational site. I agree with almost every suggestion made. And thats unusual. on Mumsnet