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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

My placement school is a shit tip

78 replies

AuroraFloyd · 27/06/2017 07:53

I'm starting teacher training in September and I've been visiting my placement school to get to know people, learn the routines etc.

Unfortunately, the state of the school is horrific. It is badly in need of a lick of paint, the corridors near the pupil toilets stink of piss, the carpets are covered in old chewing gum, threadbare and literally have holes in them. There are holes in doors (presumably where they have been kicked), basic maintenance like missing door handles needs doing, the windows and sills are filthy, the staff toilets are in disrepair (with one being used as a store cupboard for broken furniture). None of the tables/desks and chairs match and are clearly ancient and shabby.

I'm genuinely shocked and appalled at the state of the school. It is currently "good" but has been "needs improvement" for many years. I would love to ask if they actually have a caretaker or any cleaners but obviously I wouldn't!

Furthermore, I'm uneasy about the lax procedures I've witnessed. As a visitor to the school I would have expected a quick fire safety briefing, maybe a quick tour of the school to help me get my bearings - here's the staffroom/canteen/toilets etc but there was nothing. No one has checked my ID or DBS certificate and after 1 visit I'm now told to make my way down to the department I'm visiting on my own. At break and lunch I'm left to wander the corridors alone to find the staffroom and toilets.

This is all in stark contrast to other schools I've visited and my own high school. I'm not happy with what I've seen but I don't think there is anything I can do.

OP posts:

zoemaguire · 27/06/2017 23:49

Yes me too re the word shit tip. It's how I describe the state of our house (and specifically my kids' rooms!) all the time!!!! The idea that an English teacher (no idea if that is what you are or not btw) wouldn't use the term 'shit tip' is deeply bizarre. Maybe you're right wondering about regional (or class?) variation Aurora - Ok, I wouldn't use it during an audience with the queen, but it's just an innocuous colloquialism for a total mess, no more no less!

MaybeDoctor · 28/06/2017 10:55

Perhaps it is regional - I am in the South - but to me that phrase is much more than just 'a total mess', with connotations of something really offensive/filthy and that the people within that environment are also associated with the same description.

I am not saying that is what you meant, but trying to explain why people reacted to the phrase.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 28/06/2017 19:28

I am not saying that is what you meant, but trying to explain why people reacted to the phrase.

I think it is more to do with some MN posters liking to have a go at OPs whatever. But then I'm from the Midlands and generally reasonable so maybe that's why I think like that.

really offensive oh come on

MaybeDoctor · 28/06/2017 19:32

Well, as an illustration, I was explaining the connotations for me, in my own mind, so I can think what I like in there!

PotteringAlong · 28/06/2017 19:36

No, I'm with doctor here. Shit = excrement. Foul. The connotations of wiping it off the bottom of your shoe. I don't think "shit tip" is a general colloquialism for a bit of a mess. It's much more degrading than that.

elephantoverthehill · 28/06/2017 19:37

I think, with regards to the fire procedure, instructions about fire assembly points will be in every single room in the school.

roseandviolets · 28/06/2017 19:38

Don't worry, OP.

Schools vary massively - but I think some people underestimate what a drain it is to spend such a large part of your working life somewhere uncared for, dirty and ugly.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 28/06/2017 19:39

So do you people Pearl clutch every time someone says 'oh shit'?

MN really is a parallel universe.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 28/06/2017 19:40

What is it saying to the students about their self worth when they have to spend every day in such a place?

Agree whole heartedly with this, why are people so accepting of low standards? Would you be happy if your kids' school toilets stank of piss?

And the fact that there are shiny new schools with problems is irrelevant. Schools should be well managed, have high teaching standards and be positive, pleasant environments for learning.

Get angry at the successive governments who have allowed this to happen!

Increasinglymiddleaged · 28/06/2017 19:41

Couldn't agree more unexpected

BertrandRussell · 28/06/2017 20:03

It's really odd. I have a strange allergic reaction- I am just incapable of responding to anyone who uses the expression. "pearl clutch"........

AChickenCalledKorma · 29/06/2017 07:29

I love in Surrey and "shit tip" is the phrase that springs readily to mind when I enter my daughter's bedroom. Extremely messy and uncared for.

Anewcareerforme · 29/06/2017 13:27

I too start teacher training in September so am reading this with interest.
I currently work in another arm of the public sector even less well funded than education so I'm unlikely to be surprised by much.
TBH I'm not surprised by the OP's comment about the state of the buildings, loos etc, nor lack of input on fire procedure, although I acknowledge it's standard practice to make sure all new staff know but I'm not sure about "visitors". I think it is fair for the school to assume that your training provider had done you're DRB (have they? Mine have) therefore the school wouldn't ask to see it. I've visited lots of schools whilst making up my mind if teaching was for me and was never allowed to go anywhere unsupervised even though I have a current DBS and have subscribed to the data base do that others can access it.
What was you general impression of the school? Your mentor? The dept you are going to be working in? Can you talk to your training provider expressing your concerns?

Anewcareerforme · 29/06/2017 13:33

Just want to add that during the last year Ive visited many school, very smart grammars, outstanding comps in very MC areas, good schools in pretty normal locations with mixture children and a rural school in a very deprived I've not seen anything like you've described.

BarbarianMum · 30/06/2017 09:47

I was brought up in the SE and luved in SYorks for 20 years and "shit tip" sounds the perfect description to me. And why the OP is getting grief for voicing concern over children being educated in one is beyond me. The smell of urine isn't a head nod to tradition, nor does it help educational attainment. Our primary struggles with maintenance but I'd be gutted to have to send my child to somewhere as uncared for as the OP describes.

BarbarianMum · 30/06/2017 09:48

I have "luved" in S Yorks but mostly i just "live" here.

Anewcareerforme · 30/06/2017 11:45

"Shit tip" doesn't bother me either. OP you're right to voice your concerns, I've seen some shockingly bad teaching during my observation days at highly regarded sought after schools. It's made me realise that as parents we haven't got the faintest idea about what's actually going on.

user1495451339 · 30/06/2017 11:55

Sounds bad, some of the issues are of course funding as for some reason the government would rather run everything down. However, some of the issues sound like they are to do with the management of the school. I don't get why people are nit picking about your use of 'shit tip' it sounds apt to me!!!

My son's school is in need of a major refurb but it is still looked after well and broken items get repaired and it is cleaned well. There is a proper system for visitors too. It could well look like yours has been described if it wasn't for proper organisation.

ButtonLoon · 30/06/2017 20:54

The security/safeguarding is really the issue here. My school got pulled up on safeguarding at OFSTED and they're very good at the ID badges/accompanied visitors/DBS check thing!

Anewcareerforme · 01/07/2017 06:39

Re safeguarding, the OP hasn't said if her training provider has done her DBS mine has, unless of course the school is the training provider. If they have then the school will not need to do it. Even if they haven't done it it is also possible that school are assuming her training provider has done it. OP if it hasn't been done just say something to the school, talk first to your training providor then the school if no joy, rather than leaving them with egg on their face. I was once employed in a job where my DBS wasn't done it was totally accidental A thought B had done it and seen it and B thought C had done it, not great I know but we're all human, they were mortified when they realised it hadn't been done.

cheminotte · 01/07/2017 09:13

Totally agree this is unacceptable OP . Why should our kids have to put up with this? I try and visit the toilets if I'm going to an interview as the state of the toilets is a good indication of how staff are treated and staff morale.

WishfulThanking · 14/07/2017 12:44

It sounds appalling, OP and i can imagine what you mean. My DS used to have basketball training in a school that was really run down and dingy. I would not have been happy if that was my child's school.

And I am shocked at all this 'there is no money' narrative. Where is the money? Where has it gone? Somebody must have it. We are not living in a third world country. Theresa found a billion pounds all of a sudden when she needed to save her job.

WishfulThanking · 14/07/2017 12:45

And it does sound like a shit tip, OP, so I have no idea why people are kicking off about your choice of phrase

floradora · 19/07/2017 22:32

Has anyone else noted a possible connection between the appalling lack of funding in many ( most ) schools and the tens of millions spent on the shiny new academies and the academy chains swallowing money lots of PPs mention? Am I seeing a connection that isn't there?

WishfulThanking · 19/07/2017 23:05

No, flora, you could be right. A shiny new school next to me has just gone on special measures

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