General Discussion
school
We have just bought a house in Starcross will be moving in in a couple of weeks.
Our daughter is 14 doing well at school.
We have been to look round both Dawlish and Teignmouth Community Colleges and are still undecided.
Can anyone advise
We chose Dawlish out of the two of them.
Bit like choosing a house really - what feels right for one person may not feel right for the other.
Dawlish getting very popular now.
Definitely DCC gets my vote. My son goes there and his education has been outstanding. As long as your child tries to do their best it shouldn't matter which school they go to as both schools will try to develop their ability
Whatever you do, DO NOT send them to DCC, bullying and drugs are rife there, most people bury heads in the sand and pretend it does not happen, BUT IT DOES, I have moved my son to TCC because of it, far better and teachers that care about the kids. But it's your call, I have seen a few comments on this forum about how good DCC is, I can only assume, it's written by someone who works there, you have been warned.
I think you'll find that bulllying, unfortunately, exists in every school.
I know of no drug problem at DCC but please bear in mind that ALL schools have their problems.
I also know that DCC is increasing in popularity with parents and students. The numbers being admitted prove that. Check out with the education authority if you don't believe me.
Many years ago now when I was of secondary school age I remember parents sending their children on buses across to the other side of the city where at that time I lived, so that they didn't have to go to the local secondary school. For some reason they seemed to think that those schools didn't have the problems that the local secondary did and that somehow they were 'better'.
I don't know of one of those trans city kids that went to university. But me and quite a few of my cohort at the local secondary went on to university and got degrees. One is now a Professor!
Do you think many of us parents would let our children attend DCC if we thought there were BIG problems?
I know many people with a "degree" who are on the dole, so don't try and hit me with that one,having a degree does not make you a success in life, a lot of the richest and most successful people on the planet do not have degree's. Lets look at a case in point at a local level, the Barton boys, I know for a fact they do not have degree's, but are one of the richest families in the area, they got there by hard work and making the right choices and good luck to them I say. I live in Starcross for your information and as for the figures published, they prove nothing, we all know that they can be made to look however they want them to. Close your eyes to the facts if you wish, my son is doing great at TCC and I would not have him go back to DCC if you paid me.
Funny ..... I've heard exactly the same about TCC. Go and have a look at both then make your own mind up.
The figures published come from a government department as a result of exams results not locally so cannot be doctored.
All three of my children went to DCC and are happy, successful and well rounded individuals I'm proud to say. That's not only down to their education, I admit, but it played a very large part in their lives and a part it was our duty as parents, to support. One has a degree, the other two do not, because it was their choice not to follow that route. What suits one does not suit another. Not everyone in this life is cut out to follow a degree route - especially when you end up thousands in debt because of it. Not everybody wants it.
All three had a happy and successful education at DCC. They kept with friends made at playschool and primary and went on to make new ones - all of which have stayed with them into their older life. Thank you DCC for what you gave them. They all speak with very fond memories of their secondary education and readily agree they were "the best days of their lives".
I am the parent with the degree who made the earlier posting. Whilst I totally agree that having a degree is not the
be all and end all of everything and certainly not THE definition of success, it so often seems that schools ARE defined as to whether or not they are 'successful' by the academic success of their students. That was the point I was trying to make.
Totally agree that success takes many forms -would be interested to see how others define a 'successful' school.
My kids first went to DCC drink and drugs at the school was a huge problem We moved them to TCC and what a difference.
I think a lot of it is due to the fact they have a 6th form.
Problems in DCC are swept under the carpet
18 months ago.
I know plenty of parents whose children are still there and they are dissatisfied.
TCC is full there is a waiting list for September intake from people living in Dawlish and Starcross
We live in Starcross TCC was or first choice for September we are 7th on the waiting list it has now gone to appeal
Last time I checked DCC was just short of being full for September 2008 intake.
Seems both schools are popular - oh and guess what - I understand students living in Teignmouth are now applying to go to.... guess where? Yes, you've got it. DCC.
It's a funny old world ain't it? It seems anywhere is better than the school right on your doorstep.
TCC is full there is not room for all pupils from Teignmouth they have to apply for DCC or travel further. We arent exactly spoilt for choice are we? the places in schools hasn't kept up with the growing population
What no-one has mentioned is where does your child want to go?
What about friends within the village, where do they go?
We place huge emphasis on the child's education but forget that if they are miserable because their friends go to a different school or they have no friends living near them their education will suffer.
As a teenager being with your friends and the social side of school is hugely important. Parents (myself included) tend to forget this. If your child is happy generally then they should do well at school, whichever school they go to. If the parents support, encourage and show by example that hard work brings it's own rewards then the child should follow suit.
We havent moved in yet, but know a few children from the village go to Exeter.
Our daughter is well adjusted and happy at her school.
We have had to move to be near my elderly parents.
Our concern has always been our children their happiness and welfare.
There has been so much negative input about the local schools Our daughter travels a distance to school now, as we live in a rural area.
tavelling wont be a problem.
She does know people in the village from staying with her grandparents
Oblivious, you raise some very good points and I do agree with you on a great deal of what you say, however, the fact still remains, that the school does not recognise it has a bullying and drug problem, which as I said in a previous post, is why I moved my son to TCC. The head has no intrest in the kids, he is just trying to further his teaching career, having met and spoken with him, I know this to be a fact, you can tell by the way he talks about the school, the next time you talk to him, notice how many times in a conversation he uses the tERM "I"
I bet you any money that if you were to ask in Exeter about local schools in Exeter you would also get a lot of negative remarks.
Green grass and all that.
And I bet, you or someone you know works at the school. Typical of Dawlish mentality, bury your head in the sand.
I don't work at the school and I'm not burying my head in the sand.
I stand by what I say - wherever you go you will invariably find locals who will be negative about the local state secondary school.
And I can only go on my personal experience which is that my child is extremely happy there.
It is sush a shame Dawlish people have to show their true colours in 'nasty and negative' comments.. Parent just simply wanted opinions, well I don't blame her in choosing Exeter based on the responses she was given. Have seen the same type of responses on eating out etc etc.
Funny old place Dawlish... my house is going up for sale next week, though it's not for the place but for the people in it.
Some say Dawlish has gone 'downhill' maybe it is because of postings on this forum..it's hardly an advert space for new business and employment or for people to move here. Many towns in Devon do not have a website like this one and they are doing well, food for thought that.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I have before now gone to a Restaurant and had a perfect meal and recommended it to other people and they have been disappointed.
I do think it's a bit unfair to try and put the blame of Dawlish's decline on this website as it does give out a lot of useful information.
Maybe take off your rose coloured glasses and see for yourself!!!!
Cheese. If you hate Dawlish move then. It is so simple. I see you are unable to put a sentence together. Were you non-educated in Dawlish?
Amazed
If there are so many educated people in Dawlish, then why do they hesitate or decline to question their corrupt local council?
Too busy watching Saturday night TV or getting drunk in the local pubs perhaps? Unable to rinse the alcohol from their shriveled brains, they can do nothing but; vote for their favourites on premium phone-line talent(ahem)shows; discuss football; woefully attempt to sing at karaoke evenings and burn their skin till it glows an Orange-Brown.
Yes, it appears there is an abundance of intelligence in Dawlish.
The worry is, the likes of Cheese will produce the future generation. You can always judge any town by its pubs.