De La Salle School and Language College

De La Salle School in Basildon does not deserve the positive image it tries to portray. While it promotes itself as one of the leading schools in the area, the reality experienced by many students can be deeply disappointing. The school often speaks about important values such as respect, care, safeguarding, and personal development, yet these promises do not always seem to match the way students are actually treated.

Many young people appear to be placed under intense pressure, sometimes to the point where they struggle to cope emotionally and mentally. Rather than feeling supported during difficult times, some students are left feeling ignored, stressed, and let down by the very people who should be helping them. A school should be an environment where students feel secure, understood, and encouraged, but for many that does not seem to be the case.

What makes the situation even more concerning is the long-term impact this can have on a young person’s confidence, wellbeing, and future. Education should build students up and prepare them for life, not leave them feeling defeated or damaged. It is upsetting to think that so many students may leave with negative experiences that could stay with them for years.

As a school that presents itself as a Catholic institution, it should reflect values such as kindness, compassion, and genuine care for others. Unfortunately, those qualities do not always seem evident in the way students are treated. Hopefully, one day the school will recognise the effect its actions have had on many young people and take serious steps to improve, so future students can have a better and more supportive experience.

De La Salle School in Basildon has failed to live up to the reputation it tries to promote. Although it presents itself as one of the top schools in the area, the reality for many students can feel very different. Much of what the school claims to stand for—such as care, support, strong values, and student protection—does not always seem to be reflected in the way some young people are treated on a daily basis.

There appears to be immense pressure placed on students, often pushing them beyond what they can mentally and emotionally handle. Instead of receiving understanding and encouragement, many feel overwhelmed, unheard, and unsupported. The school speaks openly about safeguarding and its moral principles, yet there seems to be a lack of genuine action when it comes to protecting students’ wellbeing and creating a truly safe environment.

What is most upsetting is the lasting effect this can have on young people. School should be a place where students are helped to grow, gain confidence, and prepare positively for their future. Instead, for some, it becomes a place that damages their self-esteem, mental health, and trust in the adults who are supposed to guide them. It is difficult to understand how an institution can witness the harm being caused and not take meaningful responsibility.

As a school that identifies itself as Catholic, it should be leading with compassion, empathy, and integrity. Unfortunately, those values do not always seem visible in the way students are treated. My hope is that one day the school reflects honestly on the impact it has had on many young lives and begins making the changes necessary to prevent others from experiencing the same disappointment and harm.

De La Salle School in Basildon is, in my opinion, a disgrace rather than the “best school in Basildon” that it claims to be. Much of what the school presents to the public feels like nothing more than an act, hiding the reality of how many students are treated behind closed doors. They push young people to their limits, placing enormous pressure on them until some feel they can no longer cope. The school constantly speaks about its core values, student wellbeing, and safeguarding, yet it often appears to fail to follow the very principles and protocols it claims to uphold. There seems to be a serious disconnect between what the school says and how it actually treats its students. Instead of supporting and uplifting young people during some of the most important years of their lives, it can feel as though they are tearing down students’ confidence, mental health, and future prospects without showing genuine care or understanding. It is especially disappointing that a school which calls itself Catholic does not always seem to demonstrate the compassion, kindness, and moral responsibility that those values are meant to represent. A school should be a place where children feel safe, respected, and encouraged to grow—not somewhere that leaves lasting negative effects on their wellbeing. I only hope that one day the people responsible will realise how many young lives they may have damaged and take accountability for the harm they have caused.

Where's the leadership team when you need them? Poor teachers left to deal with everything. Bullying is handled poorly blaming the victim and making good parents feel bad, rather than deal with the bully, safeguarding lead doesn't handle situations correctly, just shouts at students and doesn't follow school polices as per guidelines on school website. School doesn't adhere to brentwood diocese polices as to how a Catholic school should be so amazed how they got outstanding from the diocese of brentwood. Safeguarding is a problem, teachers and staff members openly discussing private matters. Teachers making comments and rolling their eyes to students about other teachers especially when talking about the leadership team. Students end up with mental health issues and anxiety when they attend this school. Head teacher only seen when it's rewards, masses or parents evening, never seen when there are issues. Ofsted need to investigate this school and cover ups.

Sadly this school has poor leadership and safeguarding issues, a staff member openly discussed an issue about My child which was private with her family and was repeated back to my daughter, the school doesn't deal with issues, they will send you an email to brush you off but don't actually answer your concerns or deal with your concerns. The school is very top set focust and doesn't care about the lower sets at all, they are set up to fail. Tops sets get alot of homework whilst lower sets hardly get any. There are no lines of communication to parents about what is going on in the school.