North Gosforth Academy

I attended this school, and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. Bullying was rampant, and not just for me, but for many others too. There seemed to be no effort to address it effectively. The school is located in a terrible area, and the environment inside reflects that.

The punishment system is nothing short of corrupt. Students were given detentions for the smallest things, like sneezing or coughing in class. If you stood up for yourself, you were sent to isolation, which felt more like a prison than anything else. I was in isolation once, and I had to sit in a chair with barriers on either side, cut off from everything. It was freezing as it was winter, and when I asked for the heater to be turned on or the window to be closed, the teacher refused and told me to stop talking. To make it worse, I was told to take off my coat, even though the teacher was bundled up in theirs.

The rules were strict to the point of cruelty – no bathroom breaks except during lunch and break time, regardless of the situation.

The headteacher was aggressive and harsh, shouting at students for minor infractions. I was once yelled at simply for texting my mother about something important, and it left me feeling distressed and fearful, to the point of tears.

This school is especially terrible for children with mental health challenges. They provide little to no support, and students with these difficulties often become victims of bullying to the point where they no longer want to attend school. If your child has mental health concerns or is transgender, I strongly urge you not to send them here. The environment is toxic, and the lack of care is disturbing.

The food at this school was surprisingly decent. There was a good variety of options, including pizzas, pastas, salads, and more. They even had a rotating timetable each week featuring different foods from various cultures, which was nice to see. The meals were one of the few positive aspects of this school experience.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the education system. The way students are placed in sets (classes based on ability) is highly corrupt. Despite scoring 76% on my final exam in bottom set maths, I was kept in the same set the following year. Meanwhile, students in the top set who scored as low as 13% were allowed to remain in their higher-level classes. It’s clear that the system doesn’t prioritize academic fairness or progress.

The behavior of some teachers was deeply disturbing. There was one instance where a teacher actually pushed a student, though they were thankfully sacked. However, this isn’t an isolated issue. Another teacher, who was sacked a decade ago for selling cigarettes to underage students, was somehow rehired by the school. It’s shocking that the administration allowed this to happen, raising serious concerns about their judgment and the safety of the students.

In short, while the food was decent, the issues with the education system and some staff members are alarming. This school needs to seriously rethink its priorities when it comes to student placement, staff behaviour, and ensuring a safe, supportive environment for students.

One area where this school really shines is in its activities and rewards for students with good behavior. The reward system was quite motivating, with students earning positive points by getting their planners stamped by teachers for good attendance, punctuality, and general positive behavior. These points could accumulate, and there were some fantastic rewards as a result.

For example, I heard that some students were even able to go on a trip to China as part of an award! There were also other, more accessible rewards throughout the year, which gave students something to strive for. The emphasis on recognizing good behavior was one of the better aspects of the school, and it helped create a positive atmosphere for students who followed the rules.

Overall, this school prioritizes control over student well-being, with terrible treatment from staff, inadequate support systems, and a culture of bullying. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone.

Very good academy with great teaching staff as a student who went for 5 years and experienced all departments including the sen department it’s one of the best schools in the area