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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

Went to open night last night and was told

33 replies

SweetAudrina · 06/02/2009 14:18

that in a class of 35 'boistrous' kids, not ONE of them had managed to gain higher than a G on a recent essay. The teacher was trying to highlight to me what they are up against and she said THIS is why my son isn't doing as well as he could, because the classes are just out of control. Its a terrible, terrible school but as he's in year 10 I can't move him.

And those kids that got the Gs and lower, not one of them were bothered apparantly. Most of them found it hilarious.

So are all secondary schools like this?

OP posts:

scrooged · 06/02/2009 14:23

Hmm. This is encouraging. I bet you wanted to apply for a place there and then. NOT!!

To be honest, if the teachers think so little of their pupils I'm not surprised the pupils are like this. It's hardly supportive or encouraging. Poor kids!

wotulookinat · 06/02/2009 14:26

Poor bloody teachers.

Heated · 06/02/2009 14:27

I'm shocked at the class size tbh!

bigTillyMint · 06/02/2009 14:28

35 in a Y10 class

Are you sure you can't move him?

ramonaquimby · 06/02/2009 14:29

says a lot about senior management too if the teacher doesn't think she can do anything about it. I despair for dd.......when she goes to secondary

Heated · 06/02/2009 14:30

And no, not all secondary school are like this otherwise I'd be running from the hills.

Dh enjoys teaching challenging kids, but he would have told SMT where to shove a class size of 35.

herbietea · 06/02/2009 14:30

This reply has been deleted

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herbietea · 06/02/2009 14:30

This reply has been deleted

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Heated · 06/02/2009 14:30

for the hills, woman!

stuffitllama · 06/02/2009 14:31

Can you really not move him? Sounds like anything would be better than this. Even moving in the middle of GCSEs. Have you explored the possibility of replicating his choices somewhere else? How attached is he to the school? The peer pressure against him studying and doing well will be enormous.

Balance that against an improved academic situation elsewhere and work into the equation the effect that a change will have on his confidence. Are you sure out of the question?

stuffitllama · 06/02/2009 14:32

I would be seriously considering cutting my losses.

TheFallenMadonna · 06/02/2009 14:35

Of course they're not. I teach classes where the target grades are in the region E-G, but they are my bottom sets. What set was this? What is his target in that subject? And what are the school results like? I teach in a National Challenge school, and we have huge focus on classroom management and raising standards. And people breathing over our shoulder all the time we're doing it. What is going on in your school?

And you could change him in year 10, but I'd look to do it sooner rather than later.

Original poster

SweetAudrina · 06/02/2009 14:43

He HATES the school. He told me if he thought he would definately get away with it, he would burn the place down

I feel sorry for the teachers. The class sizes go into their 40s in some subjects because the school is so short on teachers. Nobody will work there.

More than one teacher last night told me they have had things thrown at them, kids burst into the class during lessons shouting and screaming, ffing and blinding. The English teacher showed me a pile of work books last night and two of them had literally just been ripped in half. Apparantly one kid was "bored" so ripped his mates book apart. That kid then did the same to his book 'for a laugh'.

None of the other schools have places. I have considered taking him out and home-schooling for the last 2 years but I'm scared of messing things up for him.

OP posts:

scrooged · 06/02/2009 14:45

Oh dear. Private???? No spaces in schools a bus ride away????

stuffitllama · 06/02/2009 14:45

God just get him out. I don't HE but why don't you get on the HE thread or google HE, there are some very positive stories. How can you mess things up for him any more than they already are? So awful. Poor you -- what a decision.

Original poster

SweetAudrina · 06/02/2009 14:49

I've tried every school in the city. The only ones with places are the ones that are similar to his school, in special measures, in the newspapers every week for teacher being beaten up etc.

Unfortunately can't afford private.

OP posts:

stuffitllama · 06/02/2009 14:49

How about this -- think of what you need for the future. To get into a decent 6th form college. If you want him to go to uni ahem if HE wants to go to uni they will look at IB or A levels rather than GCSEs I THINK. So if you can get him into a decent sixth form college where he can get some decent qualifications to take him forward that's the essential.

So what does the best local 6th form college need for entry? How many GCSEs, how many As? Jeez what do I know, does it even work like this?

Anyway how about working out what he needs to go forward with something solid under his belt and work at that, and give up the rest. Better 6 good GCSEs than nine or ten Es. Surely? Am I wrong? Just throwing a few things in the melting pot.

Can you HE a more limited number of subjects, doing everything you can to get him decent grades in Maths, English and Science? It may be more doable than you think.

scrooged · 06/02/2009 14:51

If he's bright then you may get some help from the school (busaries). HSBC also do them. It's worth looking into. You have nothing to loose.

Litchick · 06/02/2009 14:51

It is an absolute disgrace. Those children are not receiving an adequate education.
I'd certainly HE. Your DD can do his GCSEs by distance learning.

wotulookinat · 06/02/2009 15:05

It's a disgrace that the poor teacher is unable to do her job properly. I'm sure that in that class there are at least a few kids who want to learn and do well, but she is unable to teach due to the chaos caused by the others. Poor teacher.

londonartemis · 06/02/2009 15:06

Do everything you can to get him out.
Demand to see local MP - school is failing in its duty to your son.
Ring up local education authority, complain and demand action, and back it up in a letter.
Go to the local newspaper and publicise it.
These schools can be turned round with the right leadership.
Speak to local private school about bursaries, nothing to lose. See if they can come with a payment plan that suits you both. Some, in certain circumstances, do not charge full fees.
Could you afford a tutor to help get him through his exams, and then get a transfer to better sixth form college?
I think it all depends on how much (public) fuss you want to make. Very very good luck.

wotulookinat · 06/02/2009 15:08

The school's management really should be doing something to chnage the situation, but I would worry that causing a fuss will make the one teacher look bad.

scrooged · 06/02/2009 15:11

You don't have to name the teacher. Your child doesn't have to put up with an education like this though. I went to a school alot like this, I was bright and the teachers spent more time doing classroom control then teaching. The effects of a poor education are long lasting.

piscesmoon · 06/02/2009 15:16

No, all schools are not like that! Mine go to a state comprehensive. Poor behaviour isn't tolerated. I would move him now.

MollieO · 07/02/2009 00:14

I'd pull him out and HE him if you can. How could you do worse than is current environment and influences? You would also be interested in how he progresses unlike his teacher it would seem.

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