In the past 3 weeks, I went to 3 different schools, Burnholme, Bootham and Archbishop Holgate's, for school visits. They are all very different schools with different students' backgrounds.
Burnholme
Burnholme is a very small state school in York. Most of their students are from local family in York. They are often students with lower Social Economic Status, ans some even have learning difficulties. Though the students are under-privileged, they are all very lucky to enter a loving school. Burnholme is such a small school that they do not have many students in the school. The class size are relatively smaller and the teacher-student ratio is larger. Thus, all teachers know every students in the school. It is very warm and loving that they are close like living in a family.
The class I observed was having a English poem lesson, the teacher, Mrs Rumney is a very patient and experienced teacher (though she look young). She demonstrated the excellent classroom management techniques. She treated every students equally that she never omitted anyone of them. Some attention seeking boys were really naughty, but she could really control them. I did have good time in the class and I enjoyed her lesson so much.
Though Burnholme is a school without good reputation, some people may even label the students there, I was really impressed by the teachers. They tried very hard to create a better learning environment for the students. They treat every single students equally as a precious one. Their spirits inspire me a lot. I keep telling myself that, which school I am going to teach is not matter, because teachers have to overcome any environmental difficulties for their students. Every students has the right to be taught and to be treated equally.
Bootham
Bootham is the school which my host brother is now studying in, so I have heard of the reputation of it before. My host mum keeps telling me that the school fee is horrendous! She sent my host brother to Bootham just because she wants him to enjoy school and have a happy childhood. Surely I agree with her that school must be a happy place for students that they really want to go.
In my visit to Bootham, the deputy head of the school told us the vision and background of the school. Bootham is a private school (with very expensive school fee). The students are more diverse and there are some borading sutdents. I do really think that Bootham is a very attractive school that they believe in Quakerism. Quakers share a way of life rather than a set of beliefs, they focus on experience rather than written statements. To me, this is a very new concept that I have never encountered before. The school claim that their Quaker ethos is one that sits happily with young people from all backgrounds and faiths. I do not really know if it is real or not for every students enjoying the school, but at least, I know my host brother enjoys his school life very much.
However, the lesson really surprised me that the teacher was not as professional as I expected. It was a writing lesson, and the teacher gave some instructions for students at the beginning of the lesson. After that, she did nothing. She sat in her seat sending e-mail while the students were wandering around the classroom. I was so confused that how she manage the class, or is that a style of teaching? I really wondered. At the end of the lesson, I oberseved that some students had done nothing. I really want to ask the teacher what happen to the lesson, but she just invited us to leave the class afterwards.
I don't really know if that's a special case, the lesson was boring, without any teacher's input. I hope this was a bad example only.
On the whole, I still have good impression on the school. Bootham is a very successful school that it makes students enjoy learning, that's very important.
Archbishop Holgate's
I went to Archbishop Holgate's school 2 weeks before the school visit because my host sister has drama class in the school on every Saturdays. My first impression on the school is, very artistic. And after the school visit, I think they are more than artistic.
Archbishop Holgate's is a states school. Students are mainly from local families. This school offers lots of courses for students in different years, student are all-rounded. They also have a balanced academic performance. The facilities in school are very advance and students are given chances to access. I think the school is making good use of the resources.
However, it's a pity that we do not have time to enter a classroom to observe the whole lesson. We just walked around the school, like a whistle-stop tour. I understand that there's a lot to see, but it's better to offer an opportunity for us to observe the class, instead of introducing us the facilities in the school.
Anyway, I had good time in the school visit, the staff and students were very nice!
