Colchester Academy

Pros

Since the Penrose trust has taken over, there are much better teachers and more career opportunities. There's creative media, and art, and more language opportunities too. I'm happy with the academic aspects, and i enjoy studying a lot when i can. The food is okay! There are days when i don't eat at school, because I usually just go and study at lunch ad break. But I like Thursdays and Fridays because they have the best desserts and lunches.

Cons

I've been to four different schools and not one have i had as many suicide attempts in as Colchester Academy. There are new teachers from the Penrose Trust, and they are lovely. Unfortunately though, they don't prioritize students in the way they should. You basically get awarded for bad behavior, fighting, and not wanting to learn. Unless you're REALLY smart, good kids or "quiet" kids are often ignored or pressured to "try harder". This applies especially if you are a SEND student. Those with severe learning difficulties don't have the proper resources to be dealt with, and are more often than not either screamed at or left to have meltdowns. Its sad honestly. As an AUDHD student myself, although there are better regulation rooms and more safe spaces i can go to this year, it feels like I am a burden to them and sometimes, they will just put anyone in there (this goes to really loud, or threatening students). Also, bullying. They've put new bullying clubs in place, but don't actually speak to the bullies of the school or create a safe space for those that are being bullied. It feels very forced, and many times have I reported on bullying, but the perpetrators only get a "stern talking to" and that's it. Also, a lot of the kids even promote bullying and ostracization of "weird" or neurodivergent kids. Many of the students do drugs or promote them. There's not been anything in place for this whatsoever. I don't mean to complain whatsoever. But i just feel not listened to and like I am surviving in a school rather than just going to it. As I'm writing this, I am recovering from an attempt and wondering whether i should fight a girl who's been manipulating and bullying me for years. It's very difficult to move as I am in Year 10 and i also have siblings that have moved schools. However, I want to move as soon as possible because i have friends in other schools (none here, lmao) and they treat my language aspirations and my existence as a joke.

Pros

NOTHING but racism and favouritism towards 🤍

Cons

AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Full of racism, which comes from all the teachers and students, my cousins study’s here, the racism she gets it’s unbelievable, all the teachers have the mentality from 1700’s racism they’ve never seen brown children in their life, basically the teachers are EDL groups! They differentiate children from their skin color, so blacks at the back, brown in middle and whites ofc at the front 👏 I’m concerned to what OFTSED do when they visit or are they just another EDL group! Absolutely sickening 🤢 in this generation and era and there’s schools hiring staff like that, absolutely unacceptable! Plus teachers calling the brown children names and embarrassing them in front of everyone is absolutely disgusting! I really am praying for this school to close down! And the parents that belong to the EDL groups you are more than welcome to join this school you will fit in with their disgusting illeterate mentally!!!!!!!!!!!

Pros

Great staff, supportive SLT, reasonable timetable, brilliant organisation throughout COVID.

Cons

Sadly, a minority of the older KS3 & KS4 students have no purpose for learning which results in their disrespect for staff and disruption of learning for the remainder. With 30+ in some classes no one is achieving anything. Despite good bhvr policy, class management and SLT support, it became for me, a daily dread.