What School Feels Like From the Inside

Dear Headteacher,

I am writing this because I don't think adults always see what school feels like from where I am sitting.

I try to do well. I really do.
But sometimes it feels like no matter how hard I try, it is never enough, and that makes school feel heavy instead of a place where I can learn and feel good about myself.

There are some things happening that are hard to understand.

Sometimes the whole class gets punished if we don't reach a certain percentage in a test.
That makes me feel worried even if I tried my best, because I can't control what everyone else does.

We have a lot of tests, and they feel like real exams.
It makes learning feel stressful all the time, not something I can enjoy or get better at step by step.

There is also a lot of homework.
Over Easter I had 63 pages of maths.
That didn't feel like a break. It just felt like more pressure.

Sometimes breaks are cut short because of things like music practice, and that makes it harder to reset and feel ready for the next lesson.

Some things that teachers say are confusing or uncomfortable.
One teacher said they used to hate me but now they love me.
That made me feel unsure and a bit hurt, because I don't think teachers should ever hate students.
Another time, we were told about a teacher's difficult childhood to make the class behave, which felt strange and made me uncomfortable.

There is also a lot of focus on points and rewards.
The same people often get star of the week, and it makes others feel invisible.
Some students feel like they have to pretend or even lie just to be accepted or noticed.

Sometimes points are taken away for small things, like missing one question or forgetting to put something away.
There are also big threats, like losing hundreds of house points, which feels scary and not fair.

In class, some students who need help or are struggling quietly don't get noticed.
They just try to cope.
I think that is happening to some of my classmates.

I also notice that learning feels very focused on memorising things for tests, rather than understanding or thinking differently.
For some students like me, that makes it harder, not easier.

Sometimes it feels like the most important thing is being quiet, obedient, and doing exactly what you are told, instead of learning in a way that works for different people.

I am not writing this to complain.
I am writing this because I want school to feel better, not just for me, but for everyone.

I think school could be better if:

• Effort mattered as much as results
• Students were not punished for things they cannot control
• Teachers helped us feel safe, not anxious
• Different ways of learning were accepted
• Students who are quiet or struggling were noticed too

I want to enjoy learning.
I want to feel proud of myself.
And I want school to be a place where I can be myself, not just try to fit in.

Thank you for listening.

Yours sincerely,

11 year old Anon