Meadowhead School Academy Trust

School pushes importance of mental health but fails to deal with any issues and pastoral support staff provided isn’t great. Some pastoral managers seemed to care more about “popular” students for gossiping purposes rather than children who are struggling. Seem to let personal biases get in the way- with some pastoral managers when they have an impression of a student they let that dictate how much support they give you.

One of my friends reported racist jokes she’d overheard made during a lesson (not aimed at her) from an individual, and due to preconceived notions about her, the person who had made the several jokes was not even spoken to about her comments.

The same friend i remember was prodded by a boy in her year during an assembly and then he made a fatphobic comment towards her. Despite the distress it caused her there was no conversation had about this at all.

I myself was bullied during my time in Year 7 and Year 8. Despite a couple of conversations with the same pastoral manager who “dealt” with the previous incidents, absolutely nothing got done about it and my mental health was terrible.

The staff also are poor at handling toxic relationships or offering any support or guidance to improve this sort of thing. Although I didn’t deal with that myself, someone I knew was in an emotionally abusive relationship and when any incidents would occur, she was portrayed as the problem and as “manipulative” from what I was told by her.

The only way to get them to actually do anything is parental complaints seemingly, as they’re concerned about their reputation. However for children who may not be close to caregivers/have a bad relationship with them, I can’t for them see that being an option.

The only positive I could possibly say about the school is although several of the pastoral team are useless, some of the individual subject teachers are lovely people. I in my experience find they cared more/were more helpful than the trained “pastoral manager” I had for my year group. They were one of the only reasons I actually managed to make it through school.

I’d also like it to be noted that I could continue with further examples of how this school fail to support a large number of pupils. I wouldn’t want to live through my school years here again.

This school is absolutely horrid, no one cares about your mental health, the only thing this stupid school cares about is the colour of your socks and whether or not you're on time to lessons. One of my freinds was sexually harrased by another student and the head of year only told him to say sorry no detention or anything! I hate this wretched school the food is overpriced and is disgusting and the vending machines constantly break. The toilets smell and look like they are never cleaned and most of the toilet stall door locks are broken so you can't even close it! Last year I was bullied and constantly harrased by my ex and when I reported it they told him to just apologize. Eventhough I try my best I still get nothing, all of the people who don't follow the rules go to boxing every Wednesday/Thursday it doesn't make any sense .This school has caused me nothing but mental health problems from day 1 from the stress of the impossibly high expectations, so if you are considering sending your children to this hell hole of a school don't you will regret it.

What a mess, the only thing this school thought me was to shut up and take abuse. Trying to revive help for bullying or educational help is basically pointless. There are a few good apples in there but are unfortunately underpaid and the vast minority.Most teachers couldn’t care less about their students or blame them for the education system’s failures and not fitting to neurotypical expectations. Honestly just feel bad for whatever poor kid goes to this hell hole, they care more about you being on time to class or whatever the colour of your socks are over lifting a finger to prevent another kid from taking their life. Life does get better the second you get out of there

Had a friend drinking/doing drugs at age 15. Reported it to try and help her and was told that my friend was "lying for attention" even after I had seen her do it and told she had a bottle of alcohol in her school bag at the time. Was bullied all the way through and dealt with homophobia and transphobia alone as when I reported it, nothing was done.