Laerskool Goudrand

Appalling school. Can never get to speak to any "grown-up" from this school when additional information is required for whatever reason. There are quite a few "teachers" that find joy taking their frustrations out on the children. The office staff also seems very uninformed about upcoming events, as one office "lady" will transfer you to the next, and transfer you to another. They don't bother to help children that are booked off sick for extended periods with schoolwork to be done at home, you have to nag and nag which ultimately fall on deaf ears. The woman in accounts will be the joy herself one day and the next a total wreck, who will give you grief when all you request for is an updated statement. Communication between school and parents is still done the old fashioned way where they send papers with children in the hopes that all information reaches a parent instead of coming to terms and using email or whatsapp so there are traceable references. Or the most beautiful and persistent of all - when they send a letter where you have to pay for one or other "do" at the school and you have 2 days to pay or your child can't join, midway through the month. Not before payday for the next month. When you sit outside the schoolyard waiting for kids to go home you can hear a specific teacher constantly yelling and screaming at the top of her lungs at students, no teaching, just yelling. Then there are mornings where i see students slip out the gate, no adult in sight to prevent them from doing so. After school the kids run out in droves into the roads between cars, and wrestle in driveways and kick and throw rocks damaging cars. Again not a single adult to regulate the situation or keep the kids on the premises until transport arrives. So in other words your child's safety is none of their concern. Toilets have no toilet paper or soap for kids to wash hands before eating food. When it comes to homework time these kids don't get given a lot of homework, if, at all. This is concerning for when it comes time to go to high school, how these children will perform under increasing pressure.

If it was possible, I would give Goudrand 0 stars. If you care about your child’s mental well-being, don’t take your child here. The environment is very toxic and the quality of teaching is poor. They will have exams at the same time as cake sales and pyjama parties completely unprofessional. Children are not taught properly to read independently because teachers read and translate the exam questions for them instead of ensuring they understand the work themselves. There is also clear bias and rudeness from some teachers, and complaints from some parents are not taken seriously. Very disappointing and upsetting experience overall. They even switched off Google reviews instead of addressing concerns. There was also an incident where a teacher allegedly assaulted a child, but the matter was brushed under the carpet.

Goudrand is a nice but the toxic environment for learning is bad for our children

the school itself is fine. This review is a warning for teachers and others looking for employment at the school. the work environment is toxic, it is full of cliques and liars. The principle lied to my face and offered me a salary of R17000, on the first day of school I was told that I would only be paid R4500, which is despicable. I am not the only person who this happened to. I am yelled at and berated every single week by other teachers, on top of this, my roles and duties changed every week. this school must be avoided as a place of work. The principle is a liar who leaves bad references to other possible employers to trap teachers there.