Concerns about pastoral support and bullying at Bootham School

[Notthesameschool]

For any parents considering Bootham school for their children, I would advise against it. The management of the school is abysmal not to mention it has a big bullying problem. No facilities and no pastoral support as the deputy head retired (ELSA) than her replacement abruptly left. Than the new pastoral lead went long term sick. No TAs just not the same school it use to be. Avoid at all cost.

Are you referring to Bootham in York?

Yes, is there another Bootham school?

It’s always had a reputation for bullying, my stepbrother was badly bullied there 30 years ago, and I have known several others over the years ( and I don’t know a lot of kids that have been there).

Our son goes there, and has done for four years. Never heard of a bullying problem, and there’s pastoral support all over the place. Admittedly the ‘hub’ (or whatever it’s called)no longer lets children drop in all day, but ‘no facilities’? Really? Other than the gym, playing fields, drama studio, arts block, music rooms etc etc…

I’d like to know the background to this accusation, as it seems unfair and not grounded in reality.

That is the experience our family has had. It isn’t the same school it was since Covid.