Secondery school.

[chris54]

As I have mentioned before, our local secondary school, is now part on a larger school with the main site about 4 or so miles away. Our son is due to go up to secondary in September 2011. But as you may know the deadline for applying is fast approaching.

 

The main site is being sold to us as being best able to provide for my sons needs. (We are not 100% convinces about this.)However there is a question about school transport. It all gets a bit complicated as the two sites are regarded by the council as one school and school transport would not normally be provided to anyone who lives within 3 miles of either site even if they (choose to) go the the more distant site (It is ultimately up to the school which site a child who has been accepted at the school goes to and there is no right of appeal).

I'm told it is up to us to argue a case for the main site and for transport to be provided.

I have now been told that the drop off/pick up point for school transport, because of the road layout, and restricted access, is something like a 10 minuet walk away from the school its self, across a main road. Now unless they are prepared to provide an escort to and from school (The Building its self) this is not going to work.

 

We are rapidly becoming convinced that our first instinct was right, to send our son to the local school (Site) which is what we always intended before the school were amalgamated.

 

What I have not said here is that the school become an academy about a year ago before that the main site was one of these "college" things. It does have an all inclusive/local admission policy. One thing that puts my off is it seem to be trying to go up market. The outward sign of this is its new uniform which is all a bit over the top.(And detentions each Friday for any child which does not fully comply.)

 

 

The question was asked recently "What if all the local schools become academies"

Well that's what we have here, its pass the 11+ and go to the grammar school or its the academy. Unless you are in a situation to be able to drive you child to the next nearest school which is about 7 miles away.

[baranigirl]

My 11 yr old will start at an academy this sept and my 16 yr old went to a different academy 5 yrs ago, which she has just left, personally I prefer them as schools because they are strict about things like dress code. If my DD chooses to flout the rules she will take the punishment given to her.

 

Both DD have chosen schools out of area as we all felt they offered a much more disciplined education (Ok so I saw that part and they saw the shiney parts)

 

What is so wrong about respecting correct uniform? Whether NT or ASD surely something like that is just basic regard for rules?

[chris54]

My 11 yr old will start at an academy this sept and my 16 yr old went to a different academy 5 yrs ago, which she has just left, personally I prefer them as schools because they are strict about things like dress code. If my DD chooses to flout the rules she will take the punishment given to her.

 

Both DD have chosen schools out of area as we all felt they offered a much more disciplined education (Ok so I saw that part and they saw the shiney parts)

 

What is so wrong about respecting correct uniform? Whether NT or ASD surely something like that is just basic regard for rules?

 

It is nice if you do have a choice of schools but for most parent in order to exercise a choice of school they have to have a means of getting their child to their chosen school. If they are not in a position to drive their child to the school, if there is no suitable public transport link, if they are not able to afford a taxi, then they do not really have a choice.

 

I do not really have a view on academies as such, other than the way in which they are funded may be to the detriment of non academy schools. And there is a possibility that some may become selective with no accountability locally.

 

I am in favor of school uniforms but they need to be practical. As far as the school I referred to in my opening post part of the uniform is a tailored jacket, nice idea but in practice parent buy them 3 sizes to big so that they do not have to replace them to often, they are to an exclusive design and only available from one shop which, in my opinion, are very expensive for what they are.

Other things included trousers having to be just the right shade of grey, not sure what you are supposed to do when they fade after the 100 wash. Only black socks (Fine until they fade). And now they are even specify the exact shoes that are acceptably.

Shirt and tie, tucked in of course.

 

As I said I am all in favor of school uniforms but at this school it just all seems a bit over the top.

And dont even think about what the sports kit consists of.

[coolblue]

Even if you make a decision about a school that's 'right' at the time, things can change. I'd go with what's the best option educationally, even if it raises issues over transport and/or uniforms.

 

On uniforms, I do wonder why schools make such a big deal of them. AFAIK, there's no evidence to suggest that style of uniforms makes one iota of difference to educational attainment, or even discipline. I suspect fancy rules about uniform are used as an 'Aunt Sally' to distract attention from other aspects of the way the school is run, and to provide a steady stream of extra income for the school.

 

cb

[chris54]

I'd go with what's the best option educationally, even if it raises issues over transport and/or uniforms.

That is what we are doing.

The uniform is the some across all sites.

As I said we are not 100% convinced by what the school say, about the main site being the best option.

I get what they say about some aspects of what is offed but no sure that they outweigh the negatives of the main site.

 

As for school transport. At then end of the day if a child cant get to a school then there is not much point in them having a place there.

[coolblue]

Ah. I wasn't clear about the transport. Sorry.

 

cb