What do you expect your child to gain from their school?

balletshoes

Alpha58 wrote: »

Very interesting reading. What do contributors think of a hypothetical school, which had:

A class with a teacher and a teaching assistant where there was a boy with special needs (I believe autism/adhd) who took all the teaching assistant's time, leaving the class with one instead of two to teach them

was the TA/teacher ratio correct for the class size?

The same class where there could not be any work on the walls because it "upset" the same child

my dd's school didn't have work up on the class walls (no room for it) so project work went up on the walls in the corridors. In the case you describe, it would make sense, if it causes less disruption of the school day, for the work not to be displayed on the walls of the classroom?

(incidentally, the same child, I am told, did brilliantly in his 11+ because of having had one-on-one tuition, went to a good secondary and then bombed because he wasn't getting the same level of attention. Not sure if the other children in this same hypothetical class did as well after being 50% down on their allocated teaching staff)

Another child, lovely little girl with severe learning disabilities who was "statemented" and had her own dedicated assistant. She, being no trouble at all, was essentially parked under a table with the stubby crayons while the assistant was used as a third pair of hands in the classroom.

my dd also had a pupil in her class who was statemented for one-to-one TA care. He often didn't need it, so the TA helped out in class for everyone.

Coaching in advance of SATs (isn't this forbidden?)

lol where have you been :rotfl:? There have been 2 recent threads regarding this on this forum, I asked similar questions last year when my DD was going through it, and her school coaches them for SATs from January through to May each year.

A head who advise against grammar schools and was not in favour of pupils or parents who wanted to go down the "selective" route - yet had three children in grammar school. What's good for the goose...

who asked the Head for her opinion? I can't imagine asking the Head of my DD's school this, she never taught my DD so her opinion would be irrelevant to me.

Aggressive teaching staff (who then lie to the head about things that they have said/done)

aggressive in what ways?

a staff member (apparently the SENCO) who declared that dyslexia doesn't exist.

in what context?

Like I said - entirely hypothetical!

some answers from my experience .

Alpha58

balletshoes wrote: »

some answers from my experience .

Fully take on the thoughts but as I said, the school is hypothetical. Let's face it, who would want to be contentious The only point to reply on (and sorry if this means I am a bit dim) but aren't SATs supposed to be an objective evaluation? If there is coaching, surely that obviates the point? I personally see them as another piece of well intentioned yoghurt-knitter nonsense imposed by good ol' Tony and his 14-year sociological experiment, but I'm not an education specialist - just a parent.

balletshoes

Alpha58 wrote: »

Fully take on the thoughts but as I said, the school is hypothetical. Let's face it, who would want to be contentious The only point to reply on (and sorry if this means I am a bit dim) but aren't SATs supposed to be an objective evaluation? If there is coaching, surely that obviates the point? I personally see them as another piece of well intentioned yoghurt-knitter nonsense imposed by good ol' Tony and his 14-year sociological experiment, but I'm not an education specialist - just a parent.

I'm just a parent too - and SATs are a complete and utter waste of time as far as the pupils are concerned.

alex21

Quite saddened to hear of all these issues you are having with what is the most important (imo) gift to give our children, after love of course. My DS is sitting his A levels next week and will be sad to leave his school but so excited to be moving on. He has been respected and nurtured in a local grammar (not for everyone i do appreciate and not an option for many on the mainland i know) He has developed into an independent thinking and highly motivated student. He has been supported by the staff, in turn supported by a great head. There have been staff who have motivated and inspired and willingly given up their own time to help the boys with extra curricular activities. I expected and my son received all the skills that he will need for university and the world beyond. I could not be more grateful for all that he has gained from his school experience. He has made many friends and has learned to respect and command respect. The school and the staff take a great deal of credit for the well rounded young man that I am proud to call my son.:j