Valley Park School

Headteacher tried to assert authority in an unnecessary situation and also passive aggressive. One example, a student was trying to complete their work online (which was compulsory in the lesson) and the school internet wasn’t working ( WiFi issues had been consistent then). Said teacher, walked in on the class to do a “ check” and blamed the student for being “ unproductive” after said student explained that they quite literally couldn’t do their coursework on their iPad as the internet was physically restraining them from working. Bare in mind, there were other things the teacher could’ve pointed out ( bags on desks, phones out,) yet they chose to target that specific student who was actually trying to do their work, which may have came off as passive aggressive to be honest.

I encountered my worst ever interview experience at this school in 20 years! I am talking about management (not students. The school has seven deputy headteachers - one foe each year group (wow)

awful school. lots of bullying, teachers mostly care about appearance rather than education or mental health.

I have a daughter in Yr11, working through her GCSE courses and have closely watched the school's progress during her time there. None of the comments take note of the fact that the present management took over a school that failed to tackle serious behaviour and attendance issues. The decisive steps taken over the last four years have changed the situation considerably. An ongoing system of rewards for achievement in class and sanctions, including same~day detentions, for poor behaviour and attendance is part of school life for all the children. Staffing has been an issue for some years now and there is no doubt that it has affected achievement in all subjects, though some more than others. However, staffing is a problem across the South East, not just at Valley. The reasons have as much to do with house prices as the problems at individual schools. In short, Valley management and staff are working hard to turn the school into the best it can be. They are working within a selective system which labels the 25% who pass 11+ as the 'best', while the schools educating the majority inevitably confront the problems associated with some children and parents whose attitudes are not conducive to high achievement in school.

The school does not deal with bullying at all, they try to brush it under the carpet even when the Head Teacher get's involved. A consistent pattern of both physical and verbal bulling over a long period and yet the punishments they enforce are so weak, the bully's just continue with the constant abuse the very next day like nothing has happened! When you call the school to discuss instances, they don't even call you back, illustrating how they obviously don't take bullying incidents seriously. I only hope their own child gets more support if they are ever in this position.

Used to work there. Was a horrible, toxic culture of threat. Got out as soon as I could!

Sorry, but no. Teachers are more focused on uniform than education, supply teachers are seen more than the teachers, we practically learn nothing and when it comes to exams we also know almost nothing! Don’t get me wrong, this school used to be good, great in fact, but it’s gone down hill hugely! If you are reading this review I just want to let you know that this school is not all great like it may sound. It’s awful. What teachers need to do to improve: -Stop focusing so much on uniform -Actually handle bad students -Handle school situation better -GET.MORE.TEACHERS I don’t even know what to say about this school anymore. I’ve tried to move, but was unsuccessful. So, I now have to go back to this school and I’m telling you, I am not looking forward to IT! Thank you very much for your time.

School doesn’t have any care for there students and students don’t learn properly. Most students are on their phones or messing around every lesson. The school is also very small for the amount of pupils they’re holding. Valley park is very damaging to students mental health and a lot of students are very immature.

I have friends who's children go there and his yr 8 was thrown up against a wall by a teacher and said he won't mount to nothing. They got a big fine by not telling the courts there system is slow and to tell them that they are in school at 8am daily. The teachers need re training on pupil skills. This school is the worst ive ever heard of with bullying teachers.

Poor management, unable to retain teaching staff. Although their are some good teachers a number of the staff have no idea how to speak to the children and literally bully them verbally.

I hate this school, it used to have a farm but the headteacher shut it down because 'they needed more supply teachers' but in doing this someone the farm manager has lost her job, and now has to be a caretaker. Most of the teachers are so rude, and give you referals for no reason. They say how good valley is but they are masking the fact they don't care about bullying, as I was bullied for 3years and despite my head of year telling the headteacher she didn't do anything about it. The amount of gum under the table is atrocious,they don't clean the tables, the cafeteria; I don't even know where to start. First of all my friend got a roast dinner on a Wednesday but the meat was hardly cooked with some big lumps of uncooked slimy meat which was also covered in blood. When buying pasta from the canteen,they never drain it properly so there is loads of water at the bottom of the bowl, the following of is very overpriced and not hygienic. On Fridays fish and chips there is a salt and vinegar table. The vinegar is in a bottle, but the salt is in a bowl and not in a shaker and there is no spoons to use. People have to use their HANDS if they want salt which is utterly DISGUSTING. They never give out non school uniform days or school trips and we are always told it's because of behaviour. The reason behaviour is do bad is because so many people are 'rude' to the teachers. The other day I was in class with a quiet boy and his friend was late (dentist appointment) and he Explained to his friend what the work was and he got exited. When he calmly asked the teacher what he had done wrong the teacher yelled don't backchat me and gave him a referral. The teachers are so DISRESPECTFUL to US. also if your skirt is a tiny bit above your knee they send you to student hub and they take your skirt and replace it with a new one, but you have to pay for it, and you do not get your old skirt back,you HAVE to pay for the new one. Also while you are changing skirts, a teacher stands outside the toilet door. This is sometimes MALE which idt is right. They also have teachers in the pe changing rooms which is just pedophilic. Althought same sex is in the changing rooms they still stare at your ass. Don't join valley park school it's horrible

Good separation of year groups but there always seem to be sixth form sitting on the bit outside Taylor building and they are always there and they don't have work to do.