Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Oldernotwiser

What's he planning to do after GCSEs?

TurnaroundSue

He is thinking about sitting A levels, but as he knows without his GCSEs he will not be able to go on and do A levels. He is looking at the royal navy and ultimately he really wants to be a policeman. I know it seems ironic that both these professions requires to take orders, behave impeccably and accept punishment where it is due (and it will be alot worse than what he has had at school). But so long as he has this to focus on and come out the other end okay then there is no reason why he cannot achieve his goals, but ultimately it is all down to him.

hethmar

Has he joined any cadet forces?

milliebear00001

Just an offside, but you absolutely CAN go higher than the Head. S/he answers to his/her Governors and his/her Local Authority. If you are being fobbed, they are your next move - COMPLAIN if the school is avoiding it's responsibilities - that is really not on.

hethmar

If you contacted the website I gave above you would receive experienced and professional help on this.

TurnaroundSue

hethmar wrote: »

If you contacted the website I gave above you would receive experienced and professional help on this.

Thanks hethmar - sorry but the website you mentioned got lost in the threads and it went out of my head (which isn't hard at this moment in time). Have now had a look at the website and ordered the e-book. I don't think my ds has ADD/ADHD but there might be some pointers in how to deal with his unruly behaviour and make life easier, better and happier for him. For around £10 I think it is worth trying.

Thanks once again for the website addy and also the reminder.

hethmar

If you posted the people on there would tell you how to go about getting an assessment.

LittleTinker

I think the clue is the middle word, to be honest.

PolishBigSpender

hethmar wrote: »

If you posted the people on there would tell you how to go about getting an assessment.

Have you read the thread properly?

An assessment isn't likely to be of much use - if he's on the verge of expulsion, then action by the school and parents is what's needed to prevent this at such a delicate time.

TurnAroundSue wrote:

I know it seems ironic that both these professions requires to take orders, behave impeccably and accept punishment where it is due (and it will be alot worse than what he has had at school).

It doesn't actually seem ironic at all. The environment is such that he's likely to respond to it - after all, many lost cases join the army and subsequently come out much better people. It may also be as simple as being treated as an adult - certainly, many children at the age of 15/16 have huge problems with schooling simply because they're treated like children and not adults.

He has been offered the chance to reduce his lessons and concentrate on only 5 or 6, but he says he wants to sit them all!! It really does seem a contradiction in the way he is behaving, which doesn't make sense to any of us. Both my OH and myself have said that if he doesn't knuckle down and behave in school then he will find himself with no GCSEs at all as he wont be allowed to sit any.

I think you might very well have to take the initative and get him removed from some superflous subjects. I'm certain, for instance, that if he has a compulsory Religious subject - then removing him from it will be for the best.

Do you know if he is bored in school? From the sounds of things, he certainly very well could be - and this could be the trigger for all sorts of bad behaviour.

I would certainly point out some things - such as needing qualifications in order to have a good career in the Navy. I'd point out, for instance, that the life of an officer will always be much easier than the life of an ordinary serviceman - and this might just do the trick in so far as getting educational results. But again, if he's capable of good grades without trying - then I suspect that boredom may very well be the issue.

Oldernotwiser

TurnaroundSue wrote: »

He is thinking about sitting A levels, but as he knows without his GCSEs he will not be able to go on and do A levels.

Most sensible schools won't let someone with only 5 grade Cs do a full A level course. Is he planning to stay in the school where he is now and will they let him do so?