The FitzWimarc School

This school made my life hell. Mentally ill students get little to no care from the pastoral team, who are meant to be the ones you go to if you’re struggling. I got more comfort from teaching assistants who genuinely couldn’t do anything about safeguarding without pastoral being involved, i understand this, but the pastoral staff were belittling and disrespectful people. I witnessed fatphobia between the pastoral team and a head of year, claiming that one of the ‘fat’ students would eat his certificate if they gave it to him.
The school never dealt with bullies, i witnessed physical violence, some of which i was the target. i saw a boy get thrown over a bin and have his trousers lowered, i saw someone empty their water all over a boy in my class, i was pushed into fences and threatened, experienced ableism and transphobia.
One time I was explaining a heart problem i have during science, already anxious enough and close to whispering. The heart problem is called ASD, it’s a hole, and so happens to share an abbreviation with autism, something i also have. I was able to hide that I am autistic relatively well (or so i thought) before I told my class about this specific hole in my heart and someone shouted “that explains a lot, SHES autistic, r*tard” What was done about this? you guessed it, absolutely nothing. I was humiliated after genuinely trying to participate despite how scared I was, I wasn’t even consoled by staff, I just sat down, red, and got back to my work. Did I protest? of course not, I was used to this kind of mistreatment.
Another example of the piece of shit this school is, (trigger warning, self harm, suicide) I was pretty severely self harming and had to tell someone, I thought i’d give the pastoral team another chance and told them. Nothing. “Okay, stay safe.” Of course this isn’t proper and I would probably be labelled as a liar if Fitz saw this, but it’s true, no safety checks, just made sure i was using the “right stuff” and i wasn’t going too deep. I was having to get stitches and I was genuinely considering suicide, but yeah, i’ll just stay safe.
I had been mentally unwell for years before this, dabbled in self harm, and became very distressed about my body, I would go into meltdown everyday if my jumper didn’t sit right, i would lock myself in toilets, and then go to pastoral to take time out without being late to class, I would walk in sobbing, every day. One day i apologised in my distress saying how much of a pain I must be, to deal with every day, I was feeling sorry for myself, but then, Mrs Gluck (name drop, hope u guys see this) agreed with me, said it was getting repetitive and annoying but it’s her job and she has to deal with me. And it all stopped, I no longer seeked help from pastoral or anyone. Fitzwimarc ruined my mental and with that, my physical health. I’m hoping this makes sense, because i’m writing this in anger and hatred, i’m an english student but i genuinely cannot stop to correct myself i am so upset by this school.
Don’t send your kids here, unless they do sports of course. Fitz’s main priority.

There are very few teachers at the school who actually care for you and for those teachers, I can’t thank enough. The pastoral team will pretend to help you, then laugh at your insecurities behind your back. A lot of the teachers are insulting and belittling. The no-hands-up rule is appalling and time wasting. Not only does it embarrass and traumatise the students, it also makes them look dumb and ridiculous. Many cases of bullying go by as “they’re investigating the situation” and you don’t hear no further from that. However, if you’re lucky to be graced by the few good teachers in the school, you can get on by well. The only students the school actually cares about are those who are star athletes and next level Einstein’s. The school cares more about the amount of makeup you wear and the length of your kilt, than your mental health and education. The pastoral team will see you that you’re ill, but if you don’t throw up in front of them, they’ll say you’re lying and send you back with a cup of water (if you’re lucky). Broken your arm? They’ll fix that right up with a wet paper towel. The way they treat the students is ridiculous but as soon as parents are involved, they’re as sweet as pie and that’s only because they have no authority over them. To get my GCSE’s I had to teach myself all of my subjects because the majority of teachers can’t teach to save their lives.

Absolutely appalling school . Only a few teachers genuinely care about their students the rest couldn’t care less. The pastoral team have no interest in helping students and merely brush off bullying. I remember when one of my friends had an eating disorder and i had spoken to them to get help for her and they didn’t do anything to help her. DONT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE

Worst 5 years of my life. Never realised how depressed it made me until I went to college, college is so much better and should treat you the same in year 11, it’s pathetic shouting at a 16 year old possibly going through a rough time and making it worse *cough cough*