Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School

My experience at Blessed Hugh Faringdon School was nothing short of a nightmare. As a new PGCE student, I came in with high hopes and expectations, only to be met with hostility, lack of support, and outright disrespect.

After contracting Covid-19, instead of receiving compassion and understanding, I was made to feel bad. The support I received during this challenging time was minimal at best. As someone new to teaching, I naturally had many questions, but instead of being met with guidance, I was made to feel like an idiot for even asking. This was particularly disheartening as I was in the initial stages of my teaching career and needed support more than ever.

Sue Matthews, the assistant headteacher, was particularly detrimental to my experience. She constantly spoke down to me, belittled me, and patronized me. Her condescending tone and attitude made me feel like a child rather than a professional. The nerve she had to suggest that I had a 'learning difficulty' because I didn’t grasp something complex the first time was utterly insulting. How can someone who supposedly specializes in Mental Health and Wellbeing cause such a significant decline in my own mental health and wellbeing through her actions and comments?

Adding to this toxic environment was Celine Stubbs, who mirrored her mother’s behavior but was even more aggressive. The fact that she boasts about receiving a first on her observations is laughable, considering her mother, Sue Matthews, was the one conducting the observations. This blatant conflict of interest created an environment where it felt like mother and daughter were ganging up on me.

Throughout my time at Blessed Hugh Faringdon School, I did not witness Sue Matthews or Celine Stubbs speaking to any white members of staff in the same manner they spoke to me. This raises a serious concern: were they treating me this way because of my brown skin? The constant undermining, belittling, and lack of support felt like racially motivated behavior.

Overall, my experience at Blessed Hugh Faringdon School was incredibly negative and impactful in the worst way possible. The lack of support, coupled with the condescending and racially insensitive behavior from key staff members, made my time there unbearable. I would not recommend this school to anyone, especially those who value respect, support, and a healthy working environment.

They are really bad at dealing with bullying