Problem with private school

Nicki

kazwookie wrote: »

How did the head hear what the parents were talking about in the playground area? he must have good hearing.

Because obviously whatever OP was talking about, whether it was as I imagined it or otherwise, it upset someone who did overhear it enough to make a formal complaint to him about it, and to name all the parents involved.

DVardysShadow

Nicki wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl:

I did say it was one way it went down, not the only way!

But I will say I am SEN governor at a mainstream state school, and so I have seen at first hand how some parents talk about kids with even very minor special educational needs in the playground. The lack of understanding and intolerance to any form of difference would really make your hair curl, and things can so easily tip over into a state of such viciousness that some parents feel they have no choice but to remove their children from the school. Hence why I'd be on the head's side if this was the situation here.

I think that the correct way to deal with parents talking about other kids is to engage with the parents on the concerns. Probably not take on the group in a head on discussion, but offer individual appointments to discuss.

Frankly, if the head is sufficiently a nob to haul the parents into the office to forbid discussion, you have to doubt his competence to manage the education of children in general, never mind those with special needs.

Nicki

To be fair though OP doesn't say that all the parents were talked to at the same time. She says she was one of a group of parents who was chastised, but this could mean either that the whole group was hauled in at the same time, or that of all the parents in the school, a group of them were identified and hauled in on a family by family basis to be asked to moderate their behaviour.

flora48

This thread certainly has elements of a wind up.If a head is forbidding parents talking to each other and there is a suggestion of something illegal going on I would be removing my child and blowing the whistle instead of continuing paying fees for all of this.

ajaney

Is it worth contacting OFSTED as its last inspection may have been based on the previous 'methods'

If it is a recognised alternative teaching method like Steiner or Montessori, there will probably be an association that the school is a member of. You could try contacting them for advice.

Nicki

ajaney wrote: »

Is it worth contacting OFSTED as its last inspection may have been based on the previous 'methods'

If it is a recognised alternative teaching method like Steiner or Montessori, there will probably be an association that the school is a member of. You could try contacting them for advice.

OFSTED don't routinely inspect independent schools. They only do so in very narrow circumstances, which may well not apply to this school. They are set up to monitor state funded schools.

ajaney

Nicki wrote: »

OFSTED don't routinely inspect independent schools. They only do so in very narrow circumstances, which may well not apply to this school. They are set up to monitor state funded schools.

Oh, I have the propectus for the local Montessori school & have copies of the OFSTED inspections for the school & Nursery. I didnt realise this was not the norm.

Nicki

ajaney wrote: »

Oh, I have the propectus for the local Montessori school & have copies of the OFSTED inspections for the school & Nursery. I didnt realise this was not the norm.

Nope. They only inspect schools where head teacher is not a member of an association affiliated to the independent schools council or if ordered to do so by the D of E.

sueeve

But there is separate inspection routine for independent schools. I'm not sure what it is called, but it could probably easily be found with google or similar.
Put your child first.
I'm not clear how old your child is, but hope that you are aware with the amount of commitment homeschooling needs. Look at all possibilities, alternative private, and state as well. State schools vary a great deal in approach, and certainly at primary level you might fnd one which would be worth looking around. I know my grandchildren's state school would never use all thes punitive rules, perhaps shout if dangerous activity, but otherwise no.

bestpud

I think something is amiss here too!

I can't believe anyone would go to that expense to have their child educated in a certain way and then leave them in that school after the HT had told them off for talking to other parents!! :eek:

Mine would have been out of there that same day and money would not have entered my head at that point in time!!

No way would I be told I can't discuss my child's education with other parents!

Reading between the lines, my guess is the OP has only recently decided to home educate, and now wants to avoid the fees. I'm not sure the rest is as described but I may be wrong.