How to cope in an area of the UK where all schools use bells

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I asked this earlier today on Yahoo Answers, but only got one negative answer saying that only more severe autistic kids had issues with bells. So I've chosen to ask here where I might get more helpful answers, since this website is dedicated to people with the disorder. I'm not at risk of moving area, but just want to know how I would deal with this issue if I was to move elsewhere in the UK (I believe most British secondary schools use bells, please confirm this). I've had a long fear of fire alarms, which includes school bells, since they are basically the same noise. I went to another school once near to mine which does have bells for an open evening, and the bell rung at 5:30PM on the automated system as a teachers reminder to leave. For the rest of that evening, I was worrying quite a lot. I never felt as comfortable there as at my own, which only has them as fire alarms, since there was a fear of them going off .

Currently I go to a school in Swindon (UK) without bells, excluding for fire alarms. But I have always had a fear of visiting other schools due to the fact that I know my school stands apart from the majority in my area. And while I don't need to attend other schools in Swindon, what if I was to move to another town in England where all the secondary schools in my catchment area used bells? How exactly would I get by, since I'd worry for the whole of the last 10 minutes or so of every period. Would it involve me wearing a watch synced up to the nearest few seconds, or would I and the school have to come to an agreement (abolishment of bells or going out of lessons five minutes early)?

So in other words, would my parents have to have a chat with the school and come to an arrangement for me to be let out of lessons early and go outside at the times when the bells were sounding, or would it normally be possible for me to ask the school for the bell timing clock on a PC so that I could look at it and set a watch to exactly the same time? Or would my parents be able to convince the school to abolish bells? Please give me suggestions of what I should do if this became a true scenario...


Also, in addition, what are some names of schools in the UK (if you went to one of them or know someone who did) which DIDN'T have them throughout each day? I'd be interested in knowing since they stand apart from the majority which do.

Why exactly can't you stand the bells?

It is the sound itself? Some schools use a melody instead of the ring. My high school was like this (in Poland though). It was a real relieve not being forced to hear the stupid bell sound every 45 mins.

Is it the volume? You might look at the clock and cover your ears when bell is about to ring or in case the volume is not that bad just make sure you don't stand directly next to the bell. The sound is less even a few meters away. You can also ask the teacher to let you stay in classroom during breaks. The bells ring in the hall so the sound is not so loud in classrooms which are usually silenced(so hall footsteps won't disturb the lesson).

Or is the the surprise? Well, it might be bad but as long as you look at clock often enough you will know when the bell is going to ring so you will learn not to be surprised by it pretty soon.

I never liked the bells but I always knew it is something I can't avoid so I could stand it. To be honest, the bell sounds were not as bad as general noise on the hall during school breaks. I was hiding in the school basement or cleaners room during breaks in elementary and middle school because I hated how loud people scream. That's another reason why I liked my high school - we were allowed to stay in classrooms during breaks if we wanted. I was going out only to the restroom or cafeteria (just to bring food to the classroom and eat there).

BTW. The bell sounds way worse when the school is silent (as the bell you heard). Usually people stay in silenced classrooms(so the bell is not that loud) or are in very loud, crowded hall(the noise covers the bell sound). The worst thing is stay in empty hall at the moment. That's truly scary. Other cases are not so bad.

You could buy a set of ear defenders for £2-82 and put them on before the bell is expected to ring.
If your school is aware of your ASD diagnosis they will understand.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Workwea ... 520/p56509

My secondary school didn't have bells but I have no idea about the other ones near me. If you don't like them you could buy some ear defenders then if you have to go to another school then you have some just in case.