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Secondary education

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Original poster

School lockers does your school have enough for each child?

31 replies

Lockersonmymind · 02/10/2014 21:47

Does your secondary school have enough lockers for each student? Does your DC use the locker if they have one? If your DC doesn't have a locker how do you feel about them carting around all their books, PE equipment all day? Do they often lose things at school? Do you hold the school or your child responsible if they lose property? At the school I work at there are not enough lockers and children are constantly losing things and often the parents seem to hold the school responsible. I am interested to hear what others think? Thanks

OP posts:
WittyUsername102 · 02/10/2014 21:51

The school have enough for about 15% of students. DD1 had a locker in her first year but found it too much hassle to be going back and forth to get things and going back at the end of the day, so she never got one the next years. She doesn't mind carrying all her things and she's never lost anything.

TheFirstOfHerName · 02/10/2014 21:54

That's a lot of questions.

Does your secondary school have enough lockers for each student?
Yes, but some are a long way from the classrooms, and there is only time to go there at break time.

Does your DC use the locker if they have one?
One uses it every day. The other never uses it, and didn't bother getting one this year.

If your DC doesn't have a locker how do you feel about them carting around all their books, PE equipment all day?
DS1 has a good backpack (North Face recon) which helps their backs. It's not ideal though. DS2 has clarinet on the same day as rugby which would make it tricky without a locker.

Do they often lose things at school?
No.

Do you hold the school or your child responsible if they lose property?
The child. We give them a few days to find the item, then charge them a proportion of the cost of replacement.

Original poster
Lockersonmymind · 02/10/2014 22:03

Thank you for your answers. Yes a lot of questions Grin I was driving my colleague crazy today talking about this. I think all the students should have a safe place to leave their stuff but as you both say there is little time between lessons and so often the schools are so large. I suppose I only hear from the ranting parents who blames the school for everything!

OP posts:
hugoagogo · 02/10/2014 22:08

I don't think they have any at all and it is rubbish.

AtiaoftheJulii · 02/10/2014 22:28

Dd1 and ds's schools have lockers for everyone, in their classrooms or sixth form common room. Dd2 and dd3's school only has lockers for y7 and y8, so dd2 doesn't have one but dd3 does.

Dd1 and ds use theirs all the time.
Dd3 uses hers in the day, but (a month into y7) worries that she'll confused about what's where if she leaves her books there overnight!

Dd2 seems to have managed carrying things around ok.

No, my kids don't lose things often. And I blame them if they do Smile (Although when stuff doesn't make it to lost property it's annoying. ds's school is particularly bad for leaving a kit bag in one room and then finding it under a tree three days later!)

HouseofEliot · 02/10/2014 22:34

None at all at Dd's school. We never had any either at school and we coped. She has to carry all her stuff all day there is nowhere to leave it. If they lose anything it's the childs responsibility.

kormasutra · 02/10/2014 22:43

None at ds's school.
Today for example he had his backpack with books/planner/stationery etc, then lunch in a big Tupperware type box, bottle of water, swimming kit, full sports kit for after school football as well as astro trainers, he could hardly carry it all.

Pooka · 02/10/2014 22:48

Lockers for all, located in classrooms (form rooms). They can only access lockers at morning and afternoon register and after school.

Dd tends to keep her pe kit and lab coat there, but brings books home because is scared she will forget which book is where (new yr7). Lockers are small. I reckon she can just about fit pe kit, lab coat and maybe a small outdoors coat. Not room for all her books.

Original poster
Lockersonmymind · 02/10/2014 22:53

Thank you all for your answers. I might suggest that the y7, y8 are given first choice next year as they seem to lose the most!

OP posts:
inthename · 03/10/2014 00:26

ds have lockers for yr 5 - 8 (prep school) but theres been lots of issues with other kids tampering with peoples belongings. They're more like cubby holes wifh doors as they don't lock. difficult to remember and factor in when to collect other stuff during the day without being late.

catsofa · 03/10/2014 00:36

I'm a long time out of school but mine didn't have lockers at all until 6th form and I now have permanent damage to my shoulders (arthritis) partly from having to lug so much stuff on the 45 min walk plus train ride that I had to get to school each day.

I played two instruments and was sometimes allowed to leave them locked in a cupboard in the music room, sometimes not. But of course you need to take them home to practice. Neither would have fit in a locker anyway.

Even once in 6th form with a locker I ended up using my own pocket money to buy a second copy of the A Level Sociology text book just so I could leave one at home and one at school and not have to carry it every day. No consideration was given to how I was supposed to cope at all, I didn't lose anything but I really did need a locker!

AlpacaLypse · 03/10/2014 00:41

They had absolutely none at all until the brand new parent and teacher association (new build academy replacing decrepit comprehensive buildings) pointed it out. Even then they were an afterthought tacked on outdoors by the PE area.

There are about 100 lockers.

The school roll is 1300 in years 7 - 11, and 650 in Sixth Form. They do International Baccalaureate, which attracts private schoolers looking for state as the last mention on the UCAS form, and also act as Sixth Form to two other local state secondary schools who don't have one, so get a huge influx at the end of year 11. Only the most academic actually get in but I digress...

The lockers are made available to year 7s and to children with special needs. Shared. The year 7s lose their keys with monotonous regularity and the older ones die of embarrassment as everyone knows that the only reason you can have a locker if you're year 8 + is if you're officially thick or a weirdo (their words not mine.

It stinks.

And before anyone asks no I haven't got the time energy or inclination to join the Governors, I did that in Primary and I'm knackered.

darlingfascistbullyboy · 03/10/2014 10:17

Only for year 7s at dd's school. She only really used it for her PE kit preferring to keep books at home - she lost her key halfway through the year & didn't bother to replace it. The main problem was that they have very little time between classes & it easier to have everything with her. I'd rather she had a locker & time to use it - she uses public transport to get to school & this morning she had her school bag (& a sore back :( ), PE bag, food tech bag, her laptop & some costumes for a drama thing they are doing.

She has not lost much, she's in y9 now - a pair of trainers (fell out of her bag), hockey boots (eventually turned up) & her keys ... most definitely her responsibility rather th a n the schools'.

AtiaoftheJulii · 03/10/2014 22:20

Is it some sort of law that they must have PE and Food Tech on the same day?

hiimangelafernandez · 03/10/2014 22:26

Some lockers, cost extortionate, kids only want ones in the 'good places' same happened at my secondary 20 years ago. I didn't get a locker and I can still walk even though the books/PE kit/hockey stuff/pencil case and ruler were heavy ;)

TeenAndTween · 04/10/2014 14:23

DD's school has some lockers, not sure how many. Costs £5 / year.
Priority goes to those with

  • medical need
  • equipment need
  • lower years
  • walk to school
BackforGood · 05/10/2014 14:23

Does your secondary school have enough lockers for each student? (ds's school) Yes (dds' School) Yes

Does your DC use the locker if they have one? Yes and Yes

If your DC doesn't have a locker how do you feel about them carting around all their books, PE equipment all day? N/A

Do they often lose things at school? Ds used to, yes, all the time, dd1 no never dd2 - there's a lot of potential - she's more like ds, but hasn't confessed to much yet Wink

Do you hold the school or your child responsible if they lose property? My child(ren)

At the school I work at there are not enough lockers and children are constantly losing things and often the parents seem to hold the school responsible. I am interested to hear what others think? Thanks

LAlady · 05/10/2014 16:58

DD's school - yes, they have enough lockers for all pupils

DS's school - he's year 10 and previously had to be allocated on first come, first served basis. However due to health and safety they have sufficient lockers for everyone this year - means no more carrying around sports kit etc if you don't have one

prettybird · 05/10/2014 17:11

Only enough lockers for about 10-20% of the kids (not sure about the actual proportion - few enough to be not the norm). There is literally no room for them anywhere. A few more were put in in the PE block when it was built - but it is separate to the "main" building.

Ds doesn't seem to lose things (he is in S3 = Y9), nor does he appear to have too large/heavy a school bag - even on days when he has After School Rugby.

Space is tight in his school: the "social" area (ie the canteen) is tiny, so only really enough room for one year's worth of the school to sit (which is why it is only compulsory to stay in at lunchtimes in S1) Sad

prettybird · 05/10/2014 17:15

On the positive side: ds uses a proper ruck sack (on both shoulders Wink) as his school bag. Because he is a keen rugby player and cyclist, he is very aware of the fact that he must treat his body with respect.

stonecircle · 05/10/2014 19:31

Yes - school has enough lockers for everyone.

No - my dcs do not use them (have had 3 at the school and none of them has ever bothered with lockers).

Musical instruments are left in the performing arts rooms which are secure; sports equipment is left in the sports block which is secure. Valuables are locked away by the teacher during sports/games.

Garon · 13/10/2014 12:01

They have to carry all their stuff around with them including coats. The school says they don't have room for lockers and my ds (yr 9) insists it's not a problem but I can't believe it's good for them. I'm worried about dd (yr 6) who'll be there next term and will also have a violin to take some days.
I'm wondering what best option is though, given above comments I can see lockers might not get used, also the school is different buildings so maybe a cloakroom wouldn't be used either as they might want coats for moving between buildings? I also really hate that they have to wear impractical blazers. My ds goes by bike so he wears a raincoat to cycle and has the blazer in his massively heavy bag with everything else!

hellsbells99 · 13/10/2014 12:10

DDs' school has lockers for year 7 and cyclists. DD2 has had one every year though for medical reasons. But musical instruments are left in the music department and PE bags can be left in the form teachers 'cupboard'.

Garon · 13/10/2014 12:20

hmm, maybe that is the answer to have places to leave certain things - so they may have to carry their main bag and coat but could leave pe kit, food tech items, music instruments, cycle gear (what else?) in particular places..
I'm not sure why cyclists though - is that for helmets? lycra?!

hellsbells99 · 13/10/2014 12:43

Helmets and waterproofs I think.
Food tech items are taken to the cookery rooms 1st thing in the morning.
Coats? - avoided by most where possible, just an umbrella to protect their hair!