Thornaby Academy

This school is AWFUL. Please do not send your child here. I must admit that the Northern Education Trust has improved this school tremendously over the past 2 months. They’ve improved the structure and understanding of lessons. But I would love to tell u about things I hope would change.
The no makeup rule, I feel this is detrimental towards young girls (also boys but no boys I’ve seen wear makeup in this school) these kids are in a time of their lives where they are so vulnerable and insecure in their own skin so if they wear makeup and feel better in it then I say let them. But you adults who preach individuality and self confidence are taking away these kids safely bubbles. I feel if u have to have a rule on makeup it should be that u can only wear natural makeup.
The uniform, I understand wanting kids to wear the correct uniform to look smart but I feel controlling their socks is excessive.
Jewellery, kids can’t even wear studs anymore. The most outrageous part is that Sikhs can’t wear their Kara’s saying that it’s doesn’t matter it’s still jewellery, Kara’s aren’t jewellery they’re an article of faith.
My other bone to pick is with school meals. My friends who are Muslim or vegetarian don’t get to eat most days. The only time they get to eat is on Friday when they’re chips. This school very rarely provides halal meat and when they do they usually cover it in sauce or plastic grated cheese (one of my Muslim friends is lactose intolerant). For vegetarians the only option they have are cookies or quiche very few kids eat quiche and to be honest we’re in Thornaby no Thornaby kid is gonna eat a quiche. I just feel like if your gonna try to call your school inclusive them you should provide meals that are inclusive and I don’t mean that nasty curry with microwaved rice.
Also RE lessons don’t teach RE anymore because it’s apparently “too controversial”. Like what? The lessons are now called “life”. We learn about anger management, marriages, and I must admit very important issues around the world mainly to do with young girls and abuse but I feel it would be more appropriate to introduce a different subject instead of depriving kids of important religious knowledge. It would help break stigmas and prevent the ignorance of other kids around certain religions.
What I think would be really helpful for kids is if we could have a type of student development team. A group of adults, not teachers not slt just adults (professionals and qualified of course) to help ease kids worries and really make you feel comfortable because not every kid has a teacher they can rely on or seek guidance from when needed. It would also be an amazing place for us to calm down and just relax. No special passes or only certain people allowed in. Just a place for everyone to get help.

I am not happy with this schoolmy daughter was taken advantage of and was threatened

My daughter attended from year 7 to year 10 when I withdrew her to home educate. She was predicted low grades in school yet achieved the highest grades in English, Maths and Science double award GCSES when sat at an independent exam centre. They certainly don’t push children to fulfil there potential especially when they have a substitute teacher in maths for a year who tells them to copy out of a textbook. My daughter was punished for low attendance and couldn’t go to see a band that the rest of the year group could, even though her absence was down to a known medical problem that the school were aware of BEFORE she joined the school. Where else would it be acceptable to punish someone due to chronic illness? They also are not very good with safeguarding as a male student PE teacher was busy playing on his phone during a girls PE session, he could have been secretly taking photos of the girls for all we know! It’s a shame that Thornaby doesn’t seem to have a decent secondary school and children have to go to schools out of the area to get a half decent education!

My child attended here.its absolutely the worse school in teesside.They do nothing to tackle bullying issues and the staff are rude obnoxious and do not safeguard the children.after 2 years 9f bullying and my child self harming i moved my childs school.Now my childs thriving

the teachers don't care about your mental health. they don't let you go to the toilet even though it's a human right and we cant control our bladder. they lecture about your marks on tests even if your struggling mentally and not being able to focus because of something happening in your life