St Johns School Leatherhead

[Balancedmum74]

Seems to be big issues at St Johns School, Leatherhead
teacher issues, another teacher disappeara at the end of the summer, everything hushed !

who is running this place, seems like a bunch of amateurs in the way the senior management behave - do they actually take advice from experts ?!

are you a member of staff there? Sounds like you might be.

But yes, from experience, high teacher turn over usually implies a toxic work environment, which schools often are. Also, parents can be insufferable and entitled.

Its a shame working as a teacher is so unrewarding a lot of the time.

No im absolutely not staff, im a parent and there are rumours amongst the parent body whichbdoesnt feel great 😔

As a former staff member with many years of teaching experience, I can only state that this school was the most troubling environment I ever worked in—both academically and in terms of pupil and staff welfare. Even years ago, there were already complaints about a teacher repeatedly using the n‑word, teachers breaking down in tears, students bullying teachers, and similar issues. I worked there several years ago and still have nightmares about the place.

@Teacher1983 can you expand more? I'm curious to know more about how teachers experienced the school.

I know of three kids that have left in the last 2 years due to bullying and being unable to cope anymore. It's a very high-stakes school socially, no room for errors and if you make one, you're in big big trouble. It's strange as for the ones who can work the room, they'll thrive on a mistake and turn it around but the ones who aren't as adept, they'll struggle and be turned on. And then you're out. Everyone makes mistakes but the cancel culture there is strong.

I am a parent of a child at this school. I also know of three children who have left due to bullying. What you say @PinkBottle75 is 100% spot on - cancel culture is strong. It’s happening to my child - good friends have just turned on my child but doesn’t want to leave the school. Somehow the troublemakers seem to remain. I was hopeful the new Head would get a handle on this but I’m not seeing the culture change. I was wondering if its just a bad year group as that can happen.

@Crystalchild Unfortunately, there are a handful of children in each year that create a very difficult atmosphere for the rest of the year group. If the sanction system were effective this wouldn’t be such a problem but repeat offenders keep getting further detentions which means they are revisiting the same problems again and again. Same kids, same problems, same sanctions. As you say the trouble makers remain.

The three that have left are in separate year groups, two from one year and one from another although I realised one more left so it’s four in total due to bullying I know of. Head seems good when I’ve heard him talk and give speeches so it’s disappointing to still be dealing with such disruptive kids that seem to get to set the rules of engagement. It could all be so different. It’s like the tail is wagging the dog at this school.

and I’m sorry your child is experiencing this too. Mine has had spells of being out and then being in. And also had friends suddenly turn. Also doesn’t want to leave but Im almost at the stage I would not mind going now. We’ve heard of some horrible things happening to other kids. It is a good school but the social side is very very bumpy.