St Mark's West Essex Catholic School

My experience at this school was just all round awful.
Teachers are not friendly at all, and are completely biased.
Even SLT members are very rude, some leaving people wondering why they even still have their job. Food is a very limited selection, and queues are ridiculous and poorly managed by staff timewise.

Mr McCarthy was a bully and horrendous teacher that made the students feel even worse.

This review is from a good student at this school.
When i first came into the school, I was kindly accepted, however, as there was no time, I had to wear my own clothes to the school, agreed upon by deputy. I had only just moved into this area aswell, so I knew nobody, luckily my buddy was so kind to me and I’ll be forever grateful for that. A science teacher was extremely rude to me, and asked me where my uniform was, but as a shy person I was very shocked at my treatment on my first day of secondary school, she looked me up and down and my buddy had to speak up for me.
Anyway I’m in my last year at this school and here are a few things:
- over the school years, the rules have become overly ridiculous, especially with this hair colour thing
- the method to get food at lunch and break time is so long that most people don’t even have time to have break
- the food is terrible, sometimes it’s stale, or there is not enough. Also the portions are really small.
- except for the science classrooms, the classrooms are unkept and limited space for study.
- library is open for everyone, but the younger years make noise and take up all the computers, as well as the library is used for meetings, vaccinations and exams, so there is no where for you to go
- if you want to go to homework club, it is not a good idea because the TAs are always gossiping and it’s full of children
- the school is unexpectedly strict on no phones.
- I personally had an ok learning experience because I was willing to learn, but many students will not want to, which will affect you
- Saturday detentions, zones. Misunderstandings
- no where to go at lunchtime and break times
- the school is quite crowded

However some teachers are sweet, and that’s what I’m happy for.

the school is a discrace they treat me like shit and i have no way out as they always shout for no reason and i got hit by a ruler from the deputy head and she even stripped searched me and the food is old out of date and sometimes have moaled
i also got samonela from the food as well

I moved to St Marks in year 10 expecting to become a better student. Little did I know, my form tutor would end up being my worst enemy. Throwing my whole forms clothes and bags out in the hall way and had my coat trampled over leaving foot prints on my brand new coat. When asking for help, I never received it but instead got sent out for speaking. My form tutor would never act this way when another teacher / colleague of hers would walk in. However, when I brought any concerns I had up to my head of year, nothing was ever done about it resulting in me becoming upset on numerous Occasions.

My form tutor also happened to be my science teacher at the time. When asking for help here, I was also immediately shut down causing me to fall behind in my class. I even went as far as writing a letter to show how dedicated I was to science and how I wanted to do well not only for myself but for the school and my family also. I even explained further how I was struggling and didn’t want to fail. However, this wasn’t enough for my teacher and she continued to pull me down. This didn’t do anything for my confidence at all.

Moving to a new school is meant to mean a fresh start. But mine was the complete opposite.

I have now left St Marks to start my new college course. I have continued on by taking b-tec science which I am loving at the moment. My teacher and I get along great and I always get help when I ask. I am overjoyed with this decision as I have been told I am above everyone else I’m my class. It just goes to show how much a teacher can make a difference in the grand scheme of things.