Local council ruined DD’s secondary school experience

[Yvonne75512523]

Hi there - My daughter is in y7, her entire year is being taught in a semi-mothballed school away from the main campus until building work is completed at the main site. We’ve recently been told there were delays in the planning application and year group will now have to stay at this site into year 8. This is basically due to our local authority closing one secondary school without having sufficient space for the impacted children at the remaining schools. How can I get some pressure on the council to ensure there are no further delays? Any suggestions on raising awareness - as a parent you seem to have zero influence in these matters.

I'm not sure how this has ruined her "experience", friends and teachers are all you really need! I would get a local councillor on board and get them to make it their "cause". Is there a PTA in the school? Story in the local press? But I'd start with the councillor.

What is the school doing? They can't be happy about the arrangements either. I also agree with PP - whilst being situated away from the main campus isn't ideal, it's hardly ruined her secondary school experience.

DC's school had to house 120 extra students for 2 terms whilst their school was still being built. Was this ideal? No, but it was hardly a disaster either.

I little bit of an exaggeration in the title. Not ideal, but they have been at home for almost a whole term which is probably far more impactful on her secondary experience, but the same applies for every child in the country. She has her teachers and her classmates.

High schools are teaching in year bubbles now anyway. What do you think she is missing out from? Is there anything they aren't able to provide at this other location?

honestly?? at least she is in school being taught. DD had 1/2 of her year 7 before lockdown started, and then in year 8 has been in school for about 8 weeks of the school year so far and isnt going back until after Easter holidays. She would love to be anywhere even a seperate building from other years if it meant she could interact with her friends!

You’re right - I’m overreacting , I’m just so frustrated with how this and last year has gone (I have a DC in year 11 so I fully get in the grand scheme of things this isn’t so bad) but as you say we’re all in the same boat with the COVID impact, this additional issue on top of all that has been caused by my useless local council. What we’re all most upset about is that the new yr7s will move to the main site whilst they keep my DCs year group at this semi-mothballed school building they’ve closed down. So they’re not getting the facilities or the experiences of the main school site - thanks for the input/ suggestions though.

Yes it is far from ideal but I think we need some perspective here. Her experience is not ruined she is still with friends getting an education and she is not in critical years for exams. I am sure the local education authority are not doing this just to annoy you .
My poor DD had to endure the fiasco that was year 13 last year, no exams , no prom , no marking of the end of school education, no proper saying goodbye to friends, the fiasco of exam results that saw her getting 3 different set of results. Now that really was a sh**t show

Hmm, I would possibly be questioning the decision to keep the current Y7s there, rather than transfer them and the new Y7s take next year at the separate site. I can see arguments both ways (and obviously don’t know the size of the year groups/the feasibility).

Do they have access to sports and specialist facilities? Are they getting access to the full range of teachers?

With the best will in the world, there’s not much mixing between year groups anyway at the moment with bubbles/restrictions, so presumably it is mostly the physical space that is different?

That doesn't sound very fair about the new Yr7's leap frogging forward. I'd question why that is the decision taken.