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Harlington Upper School
Secondary · Academy · Dunstable
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harlington upper school
good school the teachers are nice and they care about education and wellbeing
I wouldn’t recommend
I tried to get a key to my son but the receptionist told me it was too difficult to get stuff to a child throughout day!! No surprise really with the experience I had whilst my daughter was there, seem to have issues with bullying then, but son seems happy so…
Ended up contacting local police on an ongoing report I have filed for something that if they find a 14 year old wondering streets school were unwilling to help!!
Ended up contacting local police on an ongoing report I have filed for something that if they find a 14 year old wondering streets school were unwilling to help!!
**** genuine review *****
If i could put zero stars I would, this review isn’t out of spite or rebellion it’s the truth. Although there are a handful of lovely & caring teachers. The ones that are greatly authoritative are awful. The teachers are disrespectful towards students & parents but expect the respect to be reciprocated? absolutely not. There is a great lack of consideration of how the children feel as a majority of the staff have a great sense of self entitlement.
All of these plus many more negatives were partially unseen by ofsted as the teachers put on a show for them. Funnily enough they removed the literal chains off the doors adjacent to the toilets to prevent students going to them ( which they have all rights to no matter the time). However some students were chosen and were able to speak up on the serious negatives of the school including the constant usage of drugs on the school premises & the persistent fights which occurred. Once the lead heads of the school were aware of the students feedback they orchestrated a year group assembly instructing the students to say positive things about the school which is completely unacceptable.
All of these plus many more negatives were partially unseen by ofsted as the teachers put on a show for them. Funnily enough they removed the literal chains off the doors adjacent to the toilets to prevent students going to them ( which they have all rights to no matter the time). However some students were chosen and were able to speak up on the serious negatives of the school including the constant usage of drugs on the school premises & the persistent fights which occurred. Once the lead heads of the school were aware of the students feedback they orchestrated a year group assembly instructing the students to say positive things about the school which is completely unacceptable.
miss harris should get a new job
im not over exaggerating but im pretty sure this is a prison. im not allowed to take a wazz during lessons and im raging, miss harris is a girlypop and is extremely rude and entitled. please save your self its absolutely horrific here. also miss harris if you see this i hate you xx
The school is a dictatorship
I don’t even know where to begin with this school. It’s more like a military boot camp than a place of education. My daughter is in year 10 and the amount of phone calls I have had over minute things have been astonishing and the punishments way outweigh the crime. For example, they decided to clamp down on uniform (fair enough) but the constant detentions, isolations and even exclusions for something as small as a top button being undone is astounding. The kids can never do right. The school should concentrate more on preparing the children for their exams rather than excluding them from their classes. When given a lunch time detention, it takes up their whole lunch where they have no opportunity to eat which is unacceptable and is a cause for concern in itself.
Discrimination
Absolutely disgusted with the way the school has handled my son's one mistake there. Schools should have a duty of care but the SLT have made an example of my child. Racism and not looked into possible sen needs. The school are only concerned with what looks good on paper.
In rapid decline
Utterly disappointed in how rapidly this school is going downhill under the new leadership team, pupil's best interests are certainly not on the agenda for our children and every other parent/pupil we know. Money is recklessly spent on re branding, signs, enormous irrelevant pictures etc etc to help 'sell' the school whilst pupils seem to be considered as an irritating commodity used for funding purposes. The leadership team continues to chase good teacher's out of the door whilst desperately welcoming anything in their place but are currently still able to trade falsely on past results. The grades are falling as pupils become less and less engaged with the school and after trying to give the new leadership several terms of opportunity there's simply no doubt this senior leadership team aren't made of the right stuff to empower pupils and ironically do not meet their own standards of 'ambitious, altruistic and accountable leaders'
Others have even described it as a 'Korean dictatorship', perhaps a little strong but 'failing dictatorship' does come to mind.
Two children and parents entered with positive mind sets, to start it was everything we hoped for but as 'the change' happened we became counsellors to the nonsense that followed with "try to make the best of it" becoming a regular phrase in our household. Can't wait to get them out and 3rd child will not be subjected to this nonsense.
Others have even described it as a 'Korean dictatorship', perhaps a little strong but 'failing dictatorship' does come to mind.
Two children and parents entered with positive mind sets, to start it was everything we hoped for but as 'the change' happened we became counsellors to the nonsense that followed with "try to make the best of it" becoming a regular phrase in our household. Can't wait to get them out and 3rd child will not be subjected to this nonsense.
Shocking
Absolutely appalling communication skills. Sanctions put in place are disgusting. The staff are rude and think they are above parents. On one day a week the school day is lengthened by an hour for enrichment subjects however students don’t actually benefit from them they just lose time at home for doing homework and revision. I will not be sending my other children here it is an awful school.
Mr muncheeee
Aye this school is just full of rapists and dem
Joke school big man ring
Joke school big man ring
Average
Children are not allowed to use the toilet, unless given a toilet pass, meaning they rarely get allowed- even in an emergency.
Large sports facilities, out of proportion to the tiny classrooms. Some teachers are nice- some are not. There are a lot of punishments given and few opportunities for redemption. I’m not enjoying it very much- especially as there are too many students in such a small space (classrooms and corridors). The teachers rarely show interest in my situations and don’t recognise where learning support is needed. I’ve struggled with school recently and haven’t got any help.
Large sports facilities, out of proportion to the tiny classrooms. Some teachers are nice- some are not. There are a lot of punishments given and few opportunities for redemption. I’m not enjoying it very much- especially as there are too many students in such a small space (classrooms and corridors). The teachers rarely show interest in my situations and don’t recognise where learning support is needed. I’ve struggled with school recently and haven’t got any help.
MRS HARRIS
Was great until the new headteacher took over and transformed priorities from academics to appearance/ outlook to others.
pretty racist
its okay but there is a huge racism problem with the staff and students and as a poc i feel uncomfortable and out of place there a (white) staff member said the n word to a student and told them they were too young to understand racism but was only suspended for about a week its not right
GCSEs and A Levels
Was decent when I attended not too long ago.
I was a recent former student at Harlington, I attended both the upper school and continued with sixth form. During my years there it wasn’t too bad. We had a decent staff support structure, it was very clear who to go to if we needed help. One of the best thing running was the house systems. I was lucky to have had three years of this system, it made small things like interhouse completions during pe and sports day enjoyable. Another benefit was the verticals forms which allowed year 9s and sixth formers to guide them and help with their studies. Luckily, I was in my final year of sixth form when the current headteacher was introduced, so my year group did not have to put up with much of her plans. It’s a shame early, it did use to be a great school and all these current students having a negative feeling is quite upsetting. But then again we had the last headteacher for about 15 years so maybe everyone was used to the then rules.
Senior staff make nothing benefit students
This place has gone seriously downhill since the change of higher staff.
The new headteacher thinks she’s the queen of the school, and that she’s allowed to use her power to change absolutely anything, just so it benefits her and her colleagues on the senior team.
From Friday, if you get told off for incorrect uniform, such as a top button not being done up on your shirt, you get a 25 minute lunchtime detention.
There is also compulsory enrichment on a Wednesday, meaning that all 1500 odd students have to have an hour out of their timetable for a week, just so you can take part in 2 hours of enrichment, which we can all do at home, such as chess or film club or geography documentary club. Not to mention an hour is added onto the school day, meaning that students miss an hour on freedom after school, or doing homework or revision.
Don’t get me wrong, some teachers are great, and kind, caring, and actually want to make their students learn. You get some that are useless, and some that are downright evil, but you have to expect that in schools.
The school needs to change some of their policies and rules, they are way too strict and unfair for students. Enrichment should be voluntary, not mandatory.
The only problems at this school are the senior members of staff, who think they are the kings and queens of this school, and they can make every rule change just for the benefit of themselves.
This school needs to get its priorities straight, remembering that some students have upcoming GCSE’s and A’Levels, before we turn into, like a previous review said, a North Korean dictatorship.
The new headteacher thinks she’s the queen of the school, and that she’s allowed to use her power to change absolutely anything, just so it benefits her and her colleagues on the senior team.
From Friday, if you get told off for incorrect uniform, such as a top button not being done up on your shirt, you get a 25 minute lunchtime detention.
There is also compulsory enrichment on a Wednesday, meaning that all 1500 odd students have to have an hour out of their timetable for a week, just so you can take part in 2 hours of enrichment, which we can all do at home, such as chess or film club or geography documentary club. Not to mention an hour is added onto the school day, meaning that students miss an hour on freedom after school, or doing homework or revision.
Don’t get me wrong, some teachers are great, and kind, caring, and actually want to make their students learn. You get some that are useless, and some that are downright evil, but you have to expect that in schools.
The school needs to change some of their policies and rules, they are way too strict and unfair for students. Enrichment should be voluntary, not mandatory.
The only problems at this school are the senior members of staff, who think they are the kings and queens of this school, and they can make every rule change just for the benefit of themselves.
This school needs to get its priorities straight, remembering that some students have upcoming GCSE’s and A’Levels, before we turn into, like a previous review said, a North Korean dictatorship.
Gone dramatically downhill
Harlington Upper was so good until a certain number of new higher members of staff came and basically started turning it into the equivalent of North Korea's dictatorship.
Upper schools are supposed to give us more responsibility, and treat us like young adults, yet phones are entirely banned - even on buses - as is all makeup, all jewelry, nail polish, and most stupid of all; socks and tights worn together (which will land you a lunch detention). This school cares more about their presentation than the learning or wellbeing of their students. Uniform rules have become so idiotically strict to the point at which any fault may even land you in a day's isolation, perhaps just for not wearing your blazer indoors.
It's really such a shame, because the majority of the subject teachers are great, but most of those in power have begun to abuse it, expecting us to mindlessly obey them whilst they prance around wearing their coats indoors, faces smothered in makeup, with their necklaces, rings, and colourful nails glistening.
"We're here for you", they say, "we want you to learn to your fullest; you're so lucky to be here!" Yes Miss, yes Sir, because having an extra stud in my ear or a skirt an inch above my knee will most definitely be the difference between me passing and failing my GCSEs.
This school seriously needs to sort out their priorities. Because at this rate, we will all be forced to have the same haircut before anyone gets the grades they deserve.
Upper schools are supposed to give us more responsibility, and treat us like young adults, yet phones are entirely banned - even on buses - as is all makeup, all jewelry, nail polish, and most stupid of all; socks and tights worn together (which will land you a lunch detention). This school cares more about their presentation than the learning or wellbeing of their students. Uniform rules have become so idiotically strict to the point at which any fault may even land you in a day's isolation, perhaps just for not wearing your blazer indoors.
It's really such a shame, because the majority of the subject teachers are great, but most of those in power have begun to abuse it, expecting us to mindlessly obey them whilst they prance around wearing their coats indoors, faces smothered in makeup, with their necklaces, rings, and colourful nails glistening.
"We're here for you", they say, "we want you to learn to your fullest; you're so lucky to be here!" Yes Miss, yes Sir, because having an extra stud in my ear or a skirt an inch above my knee will most definitely be the difference between me passing and failing my GCSEs.
This school seriously needs to sort out their priorities. Because at this rate, we will all be forced to have the same haircut before anyone gets the grades they deserve.
Deteriorated
This used to be a great school when ********* was***********.
I felt so proud of the fact that my child was a part of this school.
Since then, a new*********** has come in and turned it upside down. It’s obvious from the way my son speaks that he and the other students are not happy there anymore.
Lockdown learning for years 11 and 13 from March 2020 to December 2020 was a complete joke!!
I felt so proud of the fact that my child was a part of this school.
Since then, a new*********** has come in and turned it upside down. It’s obvious from the way my son speaks that he and the other students are not happy there anymore.
Lockdown learning for years 11 and 13 from March 2020 to December 2020 was a complete joke!!
Harlington upper school
I would give one star if I could, that explains it all.
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