Parents - If You're Thinking of Sending Your Child to Varndean School....

[BigGully]

My boy was bullied for 2 years and kept getting detention for standing up for himself. "Raising your hands" is not allowed. They defo try and ignore bullying despite all the wonderful words. In the end we had a "come to Jesus" meeting with his form teacher and the Deputy Head. The teacher just stared balefully at us for an hour and intimated that his "personality" and "behaviour" was the real issue. At that point we moved him to another school where he made a number of very good friends within a few days and was very happy until he left last year. All of this was at Forest School in Horsham which, supposedly, is very strict on bullying. My personal experience is that the school was paranoid about admitting that any bullying takes place and they are very happy to talk at length about their anti bullying policy but it is not effectively implemented

I know that this is an emotive subject, but I do have some experience of dealing with children's behaviour whilst managing parents reactions and expectations.

Again, his reaction to your interpretation of bullying seemingly is to hit out at other pupils and the school then put your son repeatedly in detention, it offers an insight into those incidents.

I would guess that the parents of those getting hit by your son, might have a different interpretation of events and the school who are the intermediary's concluded that your son was at fault.

Sometimes parents cannot accept that their children's behaviour is below expectation's and excuse their child's behaviour whilst blaming everyone else, bullying has become a favoured tool for excuse. ( I understand the seriousness of genuine bullying )

I am glad that your son had happier experiences up until he left, but maybe he just matured or modified those behaviour traits that got him into trouble in his earlier school life.

 

[kevin.b]

Hello Sacha,

I am very disappointed with Varndean as a school, First when I received a voice mail complaining that one of my childern was failing in her class because she did ask any questions. We sat them down and had along chat which seemed to be the right way to tackle the problem. Now what I am hearing from their colleagues they are tring to ask questions, so they understand what to do for their homework, to which they get ignored or told to go away!
But the one thing that I worry about the most is the bullying.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

Hello Sacha,

I am very disappointed with Varndean as a school, First when I received a voice mail complaining that one of my childern was failing in her class because she did ask any questions. We sat them down and had along chat which seemed to be the right way to tackle the problem. Now what I am hearing from their colleagues they are tring to ask questions, so they understand what to do for their homework, to which they get ignored or told to go away!
But the one thing that I worry about the most is the bullying.

Sounds like all schools everywhere. Teachers don't give a shit, especially in year 7/8/9 or if you're not in set 1 or 2 in years 10 and 11. The 'written off kids' are just put in classes to make sure they don't distract kids that have potential. Anyone who is accidently misplaced in the set has no chance of escape or even doing well. School is a f***ing joke.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Varndean has gone downhill massively since Mr Schilt left FACT.

Was my form teacher for 2 years. A cross between Mick Jagger and Michael Portillo.

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Doesn't matter what country you are in most schools really don't do a lot to counter act bullying. I was "bullied" by a teacher in Australia, all he got was another warning on top of the 2 other warnings he already received in the 2 years he was at my school..