Southfield School for Girls

I choose this school due to past results. My daughter has attended since year 7, now year 13. I can’t emphasise enough how much this school has changed.

Previously, there were some good teachers, however they have now left (years 7-11).

Current A-levels may as well be self taught/home schooled. The TEACHER absence in 6th form is unbelievable, including head of subjects!

Particularly, do not change school if considering taking Chemistry or Maths.

No support. Please research results particularly when it comes to A-levels before considering moving schools. They are unlikely to have another inspection soon but it will definitely show the significant downturn this school has taken. My current research shows A-level results are very low/red.

This school is the biggest let down… in year 7 at was all easy no one really cared about drama we were all just trying to make it through the year. In year 8 and 9 it was horrible people would always be in drama and a group who called themself a “gang” would surround you and come up to you everyday till you admit what you did (even if you didn’t do what they said you did). Going to this school and experiencing it my self was horrible most days I would message my mum asking “i can’t do it “ or “please get me out” teachers didn’t help one teacher even said “i don’t have a magic wand , I cant get people to be nice and friendly to ___ “ . the people who didn’t go to class and skipped teachers gave up on and made them litter pick (this was seen when me and my mate where skipping ) my science teacher hated me and always picked on me so one day when I said hi to her and she screamed at me telling me to get out she lost all respect. Teachers don’t care for you to them you are just the thing that gets them their pay check. I thought this behaviour was normal till I moved school and it is the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

To anyone who wants to send kids who are different in any way here, don't. There are many fights and a lot of bullying. Teachers put in minimal effort to control students and don't really help resolve issues between students. The bullies get very little punishment and if they receive a suspension you will see them again in a few days. If your child struggles with mental health, compass (mental health department, formally known as phoenix) is quite good except about 50% of teachers don't send work. This can effect our education which pupils are entitled to.

I used to go to this school and moved because of constant bullying and harassment from other students in this school you are either the bully or bullied Southfields don’t care about mental health or how we feel only about how good the grades are. Going to this school i have experienced teachers moving me in the class and giving me behaviour points for asking for help. Once me and my friend was have a tough time so we went medical for 2 lessons I did not get asked to leave or to go back to class but when I woke up and looked at my time table and released i had isolation i went and asked why and challenged it when they told me I was told to move and was told slt will come and get me (they never did) in year 7 i was so good but from year 8 it went down hill in year 9 i rarely went form and class because of the bullying and when my mum rung the school about it they miss shipton said “I cant get my magic wand out and make people like her” which was not what we were asking. Once there where so many fights year 7,8 and 9 all had to spend their lunch time in different areas in the building. The people that did come up to me even day for a month had no punishment and only stopped when I screamed at them saying “I don't care what you believe anymore” I had good mental health but I was terrible by the end but I am slowly recovering. So just to say don’t send your kid here it’s NOT excellent like OFSTED had said.

This school isn’t what it seems. Most of the people there make you feel unwanted and for you to not feel okay about yourself. People would make you feel worthless by the most simple things. I struggled to get out of bed in the morning to go to school, only to be faced with people giving people dirty looks, classmates talking about other classmates. There would be arguments every day at every break and lunch, started by either making something up or just doing it for the fun of it. The teachers there were great, but not all of them. I was struggling for a bit at the start of the last academic year, and the only 2 teachers that noticed that I wasn’t myself were my maths teacher and form tutor. The teachers I had all across my subjects were probably the best teachers in the school. In the behaviour department there was only 1 that I felt as though if I had a problem they would be easy enough to approach and easy to talk too. The lessons that we had were okay, we’d go through a PowerPoint watch a few videos and answer some questions.

Before covid happened I’d say the school was one of the best in the county, like it said a few years back “top 5% in the country”. Everybody would be happy, there wouldn’t be arguments, everyone got along with each other.
After lockdown, I’d say everything and everybody fell apart, nobody wanted to go to school, arguments everyday, people talking behind other peoples back.

I felt as if I didn’t belong there as a student as the days went on, I wouldn’t have the energy I used to have to do work, do pe, do anything academic. The only reason I would go to school is because of my friends and to talk to my teachers. I know most people say that but in my eyes the teachers didn’t even look happy to be there. I enjoyed it at some point in the last academic year because there was a time when there would be no arguments, no talking bad about each other. And I would love to go back to that period of time.

But what I’m saying is, if you want your daughter to be happy in life, and desperately wants to go to this school, then say to her that she’s going to need to except that there will be challenges along the years, and times when she may not feel as though that the teachers aren’t pushing her, or whatever she may be feeling as though the school needs to do. If she needs to speak to someone Id recommended she goes and speaks to the Head of Year 9. I know it may of changed but her initials are ARW. And I know that she really helped me when I was saying the things I’ve said above to her, and I can still replay the words she has said to me to help me get on with my new school life. My old form tutor had also participated in where I am today.
I just wanted to write this, for someone who needs a POV of what it’s really like to be in the school.

the school on a whole is a good school. i’m still going there at the moment. the staff are very friendly and helpful. bullying is certainly a problem and LGBTQ+ people are not really welcomed. i myself have had first hand experience with that. but that’s not really the schools fault.

if you are going to southfields, stay away from the toilets, that’s where all the not so friendly people hand out

Most teachers are okay but some are not teaching their students well and putting too much pressure on them. Over lockdown n.o1 they were mostly very efficient and helpful especially nearer to the end when virtual lessons started. However, lockdown n.o3 and students were not told what they’re doing even on the day before. This is totally unacceptable and causes a lot of students stress and anxiety especially exam years.