Brooke Weston Academy

Joining the school as a Year 7 is perspectively much easier than joining the school as a sixth former. Adapting from one secondary school to this one can be quiet challenging due to the sheer difference in standards between this school and others. I've often found that most of these high standards are only expected to ensure the school keeps its consistent national rating, because some of the standards met there are higher than most workplace environments, making them somewhat pointless. Being a former student there and currently being in another secondary school, I feel as if their standard of teaching is not much higher than other schools and that their high ground reputation is merely due to the fact they dedicate more resources to keeping a good appearance, figuratively speaking.

I've rated the indoor environment 3 stars simply due to the overall aesthetics of the school. It's not very modern; the walls are usually magnolia brick and the rooms when lit are very yellow. There is also little lighting without the lights since the windows are short and don't let a lot of light in. That's more of a personal problem since I can work better in environments that please me visually.

The teachers of this school are mostly nice people, but there are a few that have some sort of high ego, like they'll tell off students in a certain way that just seems ill-mannered and unnecessarily rude. There are only two or three of these teachers, but they're often the ones that are high in power on the board and I feel like they're trying to get students to not like them.

Bullying can be difficult to deal with due to the mediums in which it happens and the lack of control surrounding them, but even then I used to get bullied right in front of the teachers and it would take me going up to them and telling them I'm getting bullied for them to realize that. I've personally had bad experiences with bullying for most of my school life, and in most cases the teachers have witnessed things and yet don't do anything until you tell them to. Being the son of a teacher, I'm aware that teachers are trained to act upon seeing signs of bullying so I'm unsure as to why these teachers cannot do so.

The school can be somewhat compliant from what I remember for LGBT people, particularly trans people. A trans person can request for their name to be changed on the system, and it'll happen if you ask before the start of a new year. I'm unsure how they'd react if you asked during a year though.

Overall, I've rated this an average because the bullying has affected most of my time here.

The school is shocking, they pick favourites never actually sort stuff out and punish you without any evidence. Some staff members are rude and the school promote equality but it’s no where to be seen in school all the school does is pressure students

Awful. Absolutely awful. They don’t handle problems well and just all around not who they say they are.

An absolutely incredible school with support for every student no matter who you are, always supportive and willing to go the extra mile every time in order to benefit the experience for them.

A very academic school that is heavily focussed on education where others may not, there is a 15 minute break in the first lesson and a 30 minute lunch break in the 3rd lesson meaning that hardly any time is wasted that could be used productively for learning; certainly not for everyone but a lot of students enjoy it alongside myself. All of the teachers are approachable and wonderful for the students they teach and as previously mentioned, always willing to help, every teacher has their own unique way of teaching and always gets the information across successfully and in the timespan we have. During the school day it is a 8:35 - 16:15 day meaning that around 7 hours (discounting the breaks) are fully learning and consistently used to the full potential. The lessons are always engaging and give both the teacher a great way to express the information to the students, but also allow the students to thoroughly go through their understanding of a subject and be helped according to their level and ability to learn and retain knowledge; a part of that is the engagement within lessons as previously mentioned where nothing gets left behind and everyone has the chance to express opinions and their own knowledge in a controlled environment.

Bullying is not tolerated in any way and is always shut down very quickly if it does happen, students on either sides are helped to overcome the situations and supported as to not end up in a similar situation, however this does not mean it is allowed and with a zero policy on it, the bullies end up being dealt with in a necessary and professional way.

Personally, as I have had to deal with issues both to do with friendships and personal mental health disorders, the student support team are phenomenal in what they do and will always do what is best for the student and even do more than they need to in order to benefit us and I can tell you that first hand as well as anyone else who has had any kind of contact with them will know how quick and brilliantly they act to make everything pleasant for the end student, especially those who require it the most.

Kinda stinky, but nice mocha