GeordieDF

Thanks Bornagain - You are right about junior staff generally but unfortunately this is not the case at Harris, as those staff leaving are at all levels - even the head left this time last year, and another VP resigned only this week, having joined at the start of the term.

Apologies - I did not intend to misrepresent you. I have to say that I pay more attention to what is said by staff 'off the record' as I have found in the past that it is a more accurate representation of the truth. I don't like being cynical, but in an open forum I just don't think that the school is that honest. Anyway, I will cut to the chase - for me the school has been a huge disappointment and has not lived up to expectations, as a result I am in the process of 'voting with my feet' ! I realize that it does come down to everyone's personal experience, so will leave it there. Thanks for your input.

It is good that both you and your son are happy with the school, but that is not my experience. I have spoken to a lot of staff who work there now and many who have already left, and wanted to know whether other parents knew the extent to which the staff there are unhappy, even disillusioned about teaching. There is a common thread which revolves around the way that data seems to be manipulated to produce the results that the school wants - and how pressure is applied to staff to produce the data that supports this. I realise that the school would never admit to something like this as it is a bit controversial, but in the long term it can't be good for the boys.

Thanks for your reply. I don't mean to sound cynical but my experience of Harris is that they are very good at putting positive spin on negative situations, which is why I was interested in getting other parents views. I have a contact at the school and know that there are only 1 or 2 of the original staff left now, even though the school does pay quite well, and very few stay longer than a year. One teacher came all the way fron Canada and only stayed 2 weeks!!

I would like to hear from other parents at Harris Boys ED, whether they are as concerned as me about the extremely high level of staff turnover. It is almost unprecented that a school would lose so many staff-it really cant be good for the boys.