choosing schools 2019

So sad, such a confused generation. He knows you care. Rhiannon

I'm afraid today that, according to our local deputy head, there's an epidemic of mental health issues affecting our children and no one knows why. Maybe they're exposed to too much social media at an age when they aren't emotionally developed enough to cope with it. Maybe our education system has become too much like a factory process forcing square shapes into round holes. Maybe its an environmental thing. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to be getting any better. It's a sad state of affairs, it really is.

Oh Di, what a worry it must be for you. I don't think you have much choice where you are though, right? Was his previous school a primary one, or have you already moved him from another secondary (or whatever they're called now)?

From what I've read, they carry knives because they're worried about knife crime themselves, and it's 'for protection' - but of course it doesn't protect anybody and just makes things worse

Is there some kind of summer school where he could learn the skills for writing dialogue/video games etc? Or perhaps you (and he) could find out who to hassle for some related work experience?

Badgering boys to read things, from experience, never ends well, but I think it's good that there's a teacher who rates him. I remember when they were little, thinking when my boys got older that they'd need less input from me - and it's not like that at all is it - it's the opposite!

Oh Di, it's at times like this I'm so glad mine are way past school age now.  With the knife crime thing - I don't know how things work up there but here we have a Safer Neighbourhoods partnership which includes police, schools and other agencies and I think they run community events where parents and others can raise issues and ask for advice.  Of course it may not be viable in a smaller or more dispersed community.  

I'd be pretty much inclined to let him be brilliant in his own way for now.  If he's into the whole games thing he may know what's out there in the way of courses or summer schools already and will come to you when he finds something that takes his fancy. Also, girls tend to be more amendable to doing things like that.  I know it often feels like stumbling in the dark, especially when they're into something you as a parent know little or nothing about.  If he knows you're on his side and will support him, you've already done a brilliant job yourself because a lot of kids don't have that.  Sometimes you have to hold your breath and hope that they and you come out the other side.