New school for year 8

[Memina]

Looking for reviews on schools in Watford and surrounding areas for my bright and athletic boy.

He has got himself into a bad crowd and has almost been written off by his current school. I'd like a fresh start for him.

Any helps would be great.

Don't know the area, but presumably you looked at the schools for y7 entry anyway?
It might be a point of which schools have spaces, so maybe start by asking the LA / ringing round the schools?
Will your DS be willing to move or will he be resentful? Given he chooses his own friends, what will stop him getting in with another 'bad crowd'?

What are you looking for to be different? Somewhere stricter? More homework? Better pastoral? More setting?

Herts helpfully puts its school vacancies on its website (also a document re what it means to have your DC move school).

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/school-admissions/in-year-admissions-change-schools-during-the-year/school-vacancies/school-vacancies-year-7-to-year-11.aspx

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/media-library/documents/schools-and-education/admissions/in-year-changing-school-without-moving-home-128kb.pdf

To be honest I really dont know

I have found the school he is at to be far to quick at judging. He's been suspended twice, switched forms and kicked out of more classes than he has actually stayed in.

What the teachers report really doesnt sound like my boy. My son tells me he has been called stupid, waste of space, 'special', all by teachers. I just dont know what else to do.

I figured if I change him schools it may give him an opportunity to start a fresh. I just dont know what else to do but something has to change.

Does your DS 'own' his behaviour? Or is it all 'it's not my fault, the teachers pick on me, everyone else was doing it too'?

To get the treatment you are reporting, it sounds as if your son is being very disruptive. He has the chance of a new term for a new start: be impeccably behaved - all equipment, attentive, no chatting, calling out, calling across the classroom.

You say he is in with a bad crowd, but he chooses his own behaviour. This might not be the sweet well behaved child you had at primary, but it is the persona of your son now at secondary

Do they have a 'behaviour report' system where class teachers have to sign off on behaviour after every lesson and then year head signs it at the end of the day? That might help perhaps?

If your son wants to move then maybe go for it, but it sounds like maybe he needs to do more on taking responsibility for his behaviour.

My DD struggles academically and it is so disrupting when kids call out, make clever remarks, muck about etc. Even so called 'low level disruption' can really impact the learning of others.

That sounds less like being with a bad crowd than being disengaged and badly behaved. What has he been suspended for? Does he have any additional needs, what support is offered?

Your main problem will be lack of available places in Herts. The best thought of schools are full with big waiting lists.

One to have a look at is the Laureate Academy in Hemel Hempstead (although getting there might be an issue). This is the school that NOBODY wanted for their children when it was Cavendish School. It became an academy a year or two ago and is going from strength to strength.

A couple of children from our school joined Y7 in September and I must admit there were tears when the parents found out they had been allocated this school. However, after a term ALL the parents are exceptionally happy with the school. Class sizes of between 15-18 children, good discipline, good standard of teaching - it’s like a private school in those respects. Their SEN department is also excellent. I would say it’s worth talking to them about his behaviour too. It is unlikely being caused solely by him just being “in with the wrong crowd”, whilst this could obviously be a contributing factor.

A fresh start could be exactly what he needs but you could just pick up the problem and put it somewhere else. Have you engaged in detail with his current school, spoken with the SENCO, head of year, those in charge of pastoral care?

I hear you and ofcourse he could do more of taking responsibility for his actions.

We've done reports which have proved that he can behave and do well. He feels he is targeted and if everyone is talking including him he will be the one called out. I just dont know but appreciate the advice

He was suspended for fighting. The first time he was attacked and he defended himself. He was suspended because of his level of aggression.

The second time he was accused of premeditated assault. But when reviewing the cctv his story was confirmed. He stepped into a fight to try and brake it up and was caught by a teacher shoving the boys apart. But ofcourse we only got to see the CCTV once hed been suspended.

I have spoken to his head of year regularly and to be fair she has been great but each teacher subject is very different. Some teachers love the bones of him and others wont even have him in class.

The group of friends are the kind that hang out in the street, go out everyday afterschool but we drop and collect him every day. He seems to be dragged into drama and ofcourse he gets himself involved.

Oh I really dont know I can just see my son going down the wrong road and I have no control. I'm at my wits end.

So the fighting he maybe has just been unlucky. That's good in a way.

But fighting outside the classroom won't be the reason teachers are refusing to have him in the classroom.

Moving him might solve all this, but unless he wants to change it won't stop him getting in with a rough crowd and showing off / whatever in lessons.

You could give him a 'final warning'. He has until half term to shape up, and if there hasn't been significant improvement you'll apply for a school move?

Moving him might solve all this, but unless he wants to change it won't stop him getting in with a rough crowd and showing off / whatever in lessons.

^^ This

Your son's perception of matters could be right but as a general life stage many teenagers feel that they are treated "worse" than their school friends, siblings etc by adults around them. Secondary school
Teachers are often more banter based in speech so use more stronger words than primary school. I would be fine with "stupid" to describe behaviour that's obviously dangerous and juvenile but obviously not for SEN or genuinely not understanding the teacher's explanation.