The Sir John Colfox Academy

I would like say that colfox is a positive learning experience with pleasant students, an excellent student council board where student voice is always heard, and a safe comfortable environment to spend your education at, but I would by lying. Firstly, I - as are many of my close friends and acquaintances - have fallen victim to bullying and slurs for which nothing has been done to prevent. The students don’t care about the ‘discipline’ and consequences here at colfox, and do not feel any kind of remorse for these actions they have brought upon others. This results in a repeat of actions and an even less safe school environment. A ‘stern talking to’ does nothing, and this behaviour will continue until teachers realise this.

My second point is that the teachers and staff pay more attention to how we dress rather than our educational and mental well-being. School jumpers are not allowed to be worn without blazers, this can be particularly stressful in the hot months for those who favour the jumpers.Teachers are fully willing to give up a large portion of a lesson to argue about an untucked shirt, a skirt that’s a couple inches too short, or maybe even some colourful pin badges showing self expression or support. But of course, this does matter more than our education, at least that’s what the teachers make us believe. We must wear this uncomfortable and impractical uniform for over half of the year, and everyone looks the same. Where’s the individuality? Comfort to learn should be put above presentation.

Thirdly, I believe many teaching methods used by most teachers and staff are very outdated. It is proven that children will work more positively in lesson when the learning is made gripping and interesting for the child’s mind. These dull, quiet, and solely independent classroom settings are not simulating and childeren are less ready, willing, and happy to learn because of this. If making learning interesting is a little bit extra work for the teachers, I say so be it. Their job is to teach, not to work through the agenda over the course of the year and cram useless information into our heads which will be easily forgotten. Using simple things like colours, games, and working with those around you, school could become a more likeable place to be. Until then, school will always be a dread to attend morning after morning.
There is so much more I could say, such as the overpriced canteen food, lack of student voice affecting the school, and the bullying resulting in many leaving, colfox is a negative experience. Do NOT attend.