Thorns Community College - Meeting positive pupils with ambition supported by their school

Margot visited Thorns Community College and met with principal, Lynn Aston, and pupils from each year of the school.

Jordan, Emily, Adam, Jack and Angela all talked about the school, what they were doing and the future careers they were aiming for. They all felt very positive about the extent of after school clubs and activities. Extra coaching in academic subjects is also on offer after hours and on Saturday mornings.

Music and drama are taught extensively at the school. Jordan was learning the French horn, Jack sings in the choir and plays Rock and a Hip Hop class is starting soon. Angela wants to join the RAF and both she and Emily are getting their Duke of Edinburgh awards. Pupils interested in the cadets can join up at thirteen years and that often leads to a desire to join the RAF as a career option.

All the pupils praised the school’s new anti-bullying policies introduced by Ms Aston. One or two of them had experienced bullying at one time or another but they all had much greater confidence now they were being backed up by the school’s zero tolerance policy.

At the end of last year Thorns had installed a brand new Muliti Use Sports pitch and it is in use and very well received by the pupils Margot spoke to.

The negatives mentioned were the state of some of the buildings. Lynn Aston clearly felt that much of the school had a slightly run down feel to it due to the lack of cash for refurbishment.

The main problem was the behaviour of a small minority of pupils. The pupils mentioned this as the main downside of the school. But it is a small number and Thorns does its best to discipline and in extreme cases exclude them. The main problem with exclusions is that there are not enough Pupil Referral Units to house troublesome and violent students – so they get passed round our mainstream schools instead.

Thorns, like other schools, have their share of parents who think their children have rights without responsibilities; and do not support the school’s attempts to discipline their children. There is a great deal that needs to change if the state sector is to come anywhere near to the independent sector when it comes to results.

Photo: Margot visits Thorns Community College