Mr Malley added: "At the time of the Ofsted inspection in July, behaviour at the school was rated inadequate. It is my pledge to improve behaviour at Addington so learning can flourish."
And so a strict uniform policy came in. A
very strict uniform policy:
One student branded some of the rules "stupid" – but said they seemed to be having the desired effect.
The 15-year-old, who is in Year 10, said: "Taking the coats off, I find it stupid especially when it is snowing and they are still telling you to do it.
"The fizzy drinks, they said they have done it because it makes people hyper: there is a canteen with orange juice and water at break and lunch time.
"We have to walk to the left hand side of the corridor and stand up when the teacher comes in. If you don't the teacher stops you and makes you go back and do it again.
Everyone was really moaning about it at first, but there has been an improvement in the school and people are actually learning as well."
Gosh! No parents ready to claim ‘human rights’ on behalf of their offspring?
Mother Simone Johnston, meanwhile, said the measures were overdue.
She said: "I have no issue with the new rules at all; they have been a long time coming and should have been implemented years ago. Maybe then the school wouldn't have the reputation it does.
"In fact, I can honestly say I support the school's new rules."
It’s just amazing, isn't it? I wonder how long it’ll be before someone upsets this particular applecart…?
Mr Malley, I salute you.
ReplyDeleteWe had a similar situation round here when several secondaries were amalgamated into a "Central Academy" and a troubleshooter was brought in to try and rein in the chaos. Strict discipline was enforced - old fashioned rules you might say - and it worked! ..... until he retired early, stressed out I personally think, at which point the behaviour reverted and many parents now travel miles to take their kids to other schools in order to keep them away from this erstwhile "centre of learning"
We have to walk to the left hand side of the corridor and stand up when the teacher comes in. If you don't the teacher stops you and makes you go back and do it again.Everyone was really moaning about it at first, but there has been an improvement in the school and people are actually learning as well."
No shit!
I was one of those lucky ones who achieved a place at a decent Grammar in the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteIt was a "system" that promoted mutual respect between pupil and pupil and teacher and pupil.
Part of it meant rising from one's seat as the teacher entered as well as a strict uniform policy.
We had little to no bullying and the overall feeling was that we, as kids, had a job to do.
That job was to learn and achieve.
The weird thing is that is was fun as well.
"...and it worked! ..... until he retired early, stressed out I personally think..."
ReplyDeleteIt's not a task I'd relish, trying to undo what the parents have done, at that age...
"It was a "system" that promoted mutual respect between pupil and pupil and teacher and pupil.
Part of it meant rising from one's seat as the teacher entered as well as a strict uniform policy."
Indeed! My mother attended one, and recalls being called into assembly because there was a report that girls in the school uniform had been observed sitting down on the Tube while elderly people stood. This was frowned upon!
When I watch the antics of the girls attending the Southend uniformed schools, I recall that tale and laugh* quietly to myself...
*weep
Every British school should be like this one... it's a national shame that many (too many) are not.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate that I attended one of the last state schools where many of the teachers still wore gowns and mortar boards. We had the cane. The headmaster drove an old 1940's Austin (we always imagined that it was one of Hitler's old staff cars). Class room windows were opened in mid-winter. You get the idea.
It was tough, it was strict. But everyday, I conduct myself according to the principles drilled into us all those years ago. I cannot say the same about many of today's kids whose concept of respect seems limited to demanding it from others but never showing it themselves.
@ John Pickworth
ReplyDelete"I cannot say the same about many of today's kids whose concept of respect seems limited to demanding it from others but never showing it themselves."
How very true. Like yourself, I was fortunate to be green-housed in a Grammar. There was no time to be bored and three hours homework every night was standard. Sports and the Cross Country would hospitalise most of today's kids.
These schools were zero tolerant towards misconduct and I became a frequent after-hours guest in detention and few boys had a run to sixth form without formal introduction to Mr Cane.
Those strict, privileged schools were unfair, yet in many ways the Nation is much the poorer for their demise.