Moving to Belfast -advice on schools?

warmhands.coldheart

starnight wrote: »

And I agree with you it's very wrong, apologies I didn't mean to imply I thought it was ok.

No need, I know what you meant.... It is sad that this goes on as I think in a lot of cases the parents then believe there is something genuinely wrong with their child, rather than just a case of they're maybe just a slow starter

choccybuttons

Several generations of dh family have gone through dundela then strandtown and all have achieved grammer schools on leaving. Choosing these schools over ones that are nearer to them.

Im not from ni org and personally hate the religious aspect of schools here as how on earth are we ever going to get true diversity if we dont educate our children together. Intergrated schools are put down all the time. Im grtting some stick at the minute for putting an integrated down as my first choice rather than the local religious school. I like the intergrated school, it ethos and how it works with children - there is so much emphasis here on academic achievement and your basically a failure unless you reach grammer. Sorry just realised Im ranting lol

IrishRose12

Can I just say, the fear of God is NOT TAUGHT in catholic schools. Some people are majorly mis-informed about Catholic education if that's what people believe. And as for being FORCED to make their First Communion and Confirmation. That is the CATHOLIC TEACHING. That is what Catholics believe, that is what is taught throughout the ages etc. Children are sent to Catholic schools to be taught the faith and to ensure that they make and believe in the certain Sacraments that is inn the Catholic faith. If you don't want your child to do that in a Catholic school then don't send them there.

From what I gather when Catholic schools are discussed anywhere, people who are not Catholic, or who have not went to a Catholic school or even asked about what happens in a Catholic school, they make it sound as if they are taught about Religion Non-stop they are told you can't do this or you can't do that because this will happen or God won't like it etc. That is a load of rubbish, and before people judge Catholic schools and their teaching, maybe they need to get the facts right first before saying they are forced to do this and they are forced to do that. They are NOT FORCED to do ANYTHING.
They are taught as per the Curriculum states and they are given religious education, as any other schools do no matter what Faith you claim to be. It may not be the same teachings as other schools, but there will be some form of teaching about it.


On anther point I have seen a few people on here mention the great feeder schools to strandtown I think it is, and Greenwood has been mentioned a couple of times. Forgive me if I'm wrong but is this school not some sort of Special Needs school?? I say this because my young cousin went to a school called Greenwood for 3 years as he wasn't ready for a mainstream school, after the 3 years were up he moved onto a mainstream school, with a Classroom assistant assigned to him as he is Statemented.

leftieM

IrishRose12 wrote: »

On anther point I have seen a few people on here mention the great feeder schools to strandtown I think it is, and Greenwood has been mentioned a couple of times. Forgive me if I'm wrong but is this school not some sort of Special Needs school?? I say this because my young cousin went to a school called Greenwood for 3 years as he wasn't ready for a mainstream school, after the 3 years were up he moved onto a mainstream school, with a Classroom assistant assigned to him as he is Statemented.

Greenwood goes from P1-P3. The 'mainstream school' he moved on to was Strandtown I assume.
All SEN children have the right to be schooled in mainstream schools so few are now segregated. Lots of children in mainstream schools are statemented and have classroom assistants. I've worked in a number of grammar schools and have yet to work in one without statemented children.

I have to pull other posters up on this idea that SEN designation is some kind of money-making exercise by schools. It's not only wrong but shows a lack of respect for the children, the teachers who have their best interests at heart and a lack of knowledge of what special needs are and how they can hold a child back. Schools are there to educate children so that they do as well as they can.

IrishRose12

leftieM wrote: »

Greenwood goes from P1-P3. The 'mainstream school' he moved on to was Strandtown I assume.
All SEN children have the right to be schooled in mainstream schools so few are now segregated. Lots of children in mainstream schools are statemented and have classroom assistants. I've worked in a number of grammar schools and have yet to work in one without statemented children.

I have to pull other posters up on this idea that SEN designation is some kind of money-making exercise by schools. It's not only wrong but shows a lack of respect for the children, the teachers who have their best interests at heart and a lack of knowledge of what special needs are and how they can hold a child back. Schools are there to educate children so that they do as well as they can.

Firstly I know all the workings of Special needs schools and mainstream schools as I work in a school myself where there are statemented children. I myself have worked with 2 different statemented children, so I know all about it.
Secondly, no, he didn't go onto Strandtown Primary, he went to the local Primary school in our own area. He wasn't able to start there in Primary one, as mainstream school wouldn't have been suitable for him at that time, which is why he had to go to a Special needs school, i.e. Greenwood he was placed in. Which was why I am confused as to what this school is actually classed as, as when he was going there it was known he wasn't in mainstream school, and also I have known other children from our own school nursery who have went to Greenwood, as they haven't been ready for mainstream school at the time.
is there a special needs unit or something attached to the actual Primary school, or is there another school called Greenwood :undecided

leftieM

There's a Greenwood House Assessment Centre.

steveymp

IrishRose12 wrote: »

Can I just say, the fear of God is NOT TAUGHT in catholic schools. Some people are majorly mis-informed about Catholic education if that's what people believe. And as for being FORCED to make their First Communion and Confirmation. That is the CATHOLIC TEACHING. That is what Catholics believe, that is what is taught throughout the ages etc. Children are sent to Catholic schools to be taught the faith and to ensure that they make and believe in the certain Sacraments that is inn the Catholic faith. If you don't want your child to do that in a Catholic school then don't send them there.

From what I gather when Catholic schools are discussed anywhere, people who are not Catholic, or who have not went to a Catholic school or even asked about what happens in a Catholic school, they make it sound as if they are taught about Religion Non-stop they are told you can't do this or you can't do that because this will happen or God won't like it etc. That is a load of rubbish, and before people judge Catholic schools and their teaching, maybe they need to get the facts right first before saying they are forced to do this and they are forced to do that. They are NOT FORCED to do ANYTHING.
They are taught as per the Curriculum states and they are given religious education, as any other schools do no matter what Faith you claim to be. It may not be the same teachings as other schools, but there will be some form of teaching about it.

Very defensive there but as we stated before no one is having a go at Catholic Schools, several of us are from mixed partnerships here and have considered all types of primary education, myself as an old right footer has even stated Catholic education is superior.

The forced religious studies is the only thing that put me off. I would like my children to make up their own mind and not be brainwashed by either side My local state school here is next to a large hospital and as such gets children from all religions and parts of the world which is great, they teach a basic religious study with a strong influence on morals, further Scripture Union teaching for those who want it is available as an after school club.

The brainwashing of our off spring is what is wrong with this country IMHO

warmhands.coldheart

leftieM wrote: »

......I have to pull other posters up on this idea that SEN designation is some kind of money-making exercise by schools. It's not only wrong but shows a lack of respect for the children, the teachers who have their best interests at heart and a lack of knowledge of what special needs are and how they can hold a child back. Schools are there to educate children so that they do as well as they can.

Sorry, don't mean to tar all schools with same brush but from what I've been told there are a lot of schools that try to get kids "Statemented" all to quickly as per my example without putting a bit of effort in..... likewise I've heard of pupils (from teachers) who have been stigmatised as having "Behavioural Problems" when they have just been a bit unruly in class and just needed some "firm" guidance/discipline....... I'm not meaning to slate some schools/teachers, maybe it's just the system that needs looked at....

IrishRose12

steveymp wrote: »

Very defensive there but as we stated before no one is having a go at Catholic Schools, several of us are from mixed partnerships here and have considered all types of primary education, myself as an old right footer has even stated Catholic education is superior.

The forced religious studies is the only thing that put me off. I would like my children to make up their own mind and not be brainwashed by either side My local state school here is next to a large hospital and as such gets children from all religions and parts of the world which is great, they teach a basic religious study with a strong influence on morals, further Scripture Union teaching for those who want it is available as an after school club.

The brainwashing of our off spring is what is wrong with this country IMHO

Yes it is defensive. Because the majority of people who send their children to a Catholic school want them to know about their religion.
I'm also very offended at the fact that it is classed as Brain-washing our children, simply for bringing them up in the Faith we ourselves have been brought up in.

I'm also very offended that it is said that Catholic schools brain-wash the children. As a Catholic, a mother and as a member of staff in a Catholic school who actually knows what is taught in the schools we DO NOT in any circumstances brain wash ANY children.
And just because parents from other faiths send their children to State schools doesn't mean they are not educating their children about their own faith in their own homes. Or children who go to state schools because their parents say they want them to choose their own way later in life, yet they are brought to church every week or once or twice a month etc.

You say FORCED religion studies??? It is no more forced than Maths, English, Science, PE etc that all children have to sit through in school. Before anyone comments or says that Religion is forced on the children, maybe they should look into what is actually taught before commenting?

I do not brainwash my children, they are brought up to respect their church, their faith and most of all their community. They are taken to mass by myself every Sunday, I have no complaints as of yet, if they ever do tell me they do not want to go then that's their choice, I will not force them to go, the same as my parents raised me. They have friends from other religious backgrounds and they are taught to respect them and their families and their beliefs also. So yes my post before was very defensive, as from a few posts on this thread regarding Catholic Schools they are all being tarred with false thoughts and I feel the need to defend them.

IrishRose12

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

Sorry, don't mean to tar all schools with same brush but from what I've been told there are a lot of schools that try to get kids "Statemented" all to quickly as per my example without putting a bit of effort in..... likewise I've heard of pupils (from teachers) who have been stigmatised as having "Behavioural Problems" when they have just been a bit unruly in class and just needed some "firm" guidance/discipline....... I'm not meaning to slate some schools/teachers, maybe it's just the system that needs looked at....

I agree with you on your points. I know of 2 schools who have over 20 classroom assistants and over half of them are for "behaviour problems" whereas the school I work in, there is 5 classroom assistants all but one whom work with children who have medical problems. Children get assistants for behaviour problems too easy these days IMO, when all they need is a firm good talking to, or punished, as in stood out or not allowed to participate in certain things if they do something wrong. However these days parents think that their children walk on water and they don't deserve to be punished for giving back cheek to the teacher, or they are allowed to hit and kick children in school.
There are far too many rules in schools thee days that staff have to adhere to, and it's beyond a joke! You can't do this or you can't say that incase it hurts the child's feelings or it will embarrass them. I'm sorry but it didn't do any of the rest of any harm, and if we were embarrassed we knew not to do it again!
It's all about Child Protection these days and keeping parents happy. What about the protection of Staff, and letting them do their job instead of bowing to certain children's bad behaviour. I then feel sorry for the other children in the class ho suffer because of these badly behaved children
It's time the people behind the desk making up all these rules went and got an actual job, maybe try and practice what they preach and see how it works. Maybe that way we would be able to go back to 10-15 years ago where children were given lines, stood out etc and they learnt from their bad behaviour.
But then again, maybe if some parents actually doe their jobs and look after and take an interest in their children instead of using the school as a babysitting service it would cut out half the problems.

Maybe then, instead of schools getting assistants for badly behaved children who allegedly have ADHD etc that children who actually NEED help and an assistant would have a chance of getting somewhere and not get lost