Children being excluded from school

Hanging_by_a_thread

Could someone please advise me of all the grounds on which a school can permanently exclude children. Or where I can find this information out.

msb5262

http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/Resources/ACE/advice%20booklets/Perm%20Exclusion%20%20Jan2011.pdf

Try this.
HTH
MsB

daska

The main thing to remember is that a child can only be permanently excluded if their continued presence is going to cause serious harm to their own or others education/welfare. On top of that they have to have been very badly behaved. Children in care have to be treated even more leniently. It's worth bearing in mind that a lot of exclusions involve kids with SEN who haven't been given adequate support.

Frith

I found CORAM to be very useful: http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/

With their advice, I was able to appoint a solicitor for my son and get his exclusion withdrawn. (The solicitor also helped me get a statement of SEN for my son, which should have been done YEARS before his temporary and then permanent exclusion).

Parent Partnership were also great but I am not sure if that is just in my county. Also the County Council website had very easy to read guides on exclusion and what to do next.

Hope this helps.

P.S Would also like to say, my son (9) has been in a short stay school since early November (formerly called PRUs). I was very worried about it when he first started but it has been fantastic! Tiny classes, lots of staff and support and he is very happy there. Now he has a statement I am looking for a new mainstream primary school for him. It is taking the County ages to sort out but the longer he can stay in the short stay school, the better!

Hanging_by_a_thread

Thank you so much for all these links and advice. I am writing this on behalf of a friend.

Basically there is no issue with the children at all, their behaviour and attendance is exemplary and they are progressing well.

The parent feels very disatisfied with the school on a number of issues. He made what was probably a bad choice and had a rant about the school on facebook. I know, I know I have told him this was not wise. Since then the school have written to him suggesting he may wish to go in and discuss these issues with them. He feels this would be a waste of time and that the response would be dismissive, which has been his previous experience.

He is concerned by something written in the last letter that suggests the school feel his opinion of them is so low that any relationship has completely broken down and he may wish to consider moving his children to an alternative school. They have asked again for him to go in and address these issues he has with them. Can the school exclude the children or have them moved solely on this issue if the children have caused no problems or issues at all?

victor2

What a stupid parent....
If the school want to expel his kids, they'll find a way.
If his rant was based on facts, it might start a change in the school. If it's unfounded, he deserves what he gets.
His only path now is to go in and discuss it with the school. If they feel there is any merit in his rant, they may apologise and promise to do something. They may just be dismissive, in which case, he will know that he at least took up their offer to discuss it, and without descending into a facebook tit for tat, can truthfully say what followed.
Of course, if he's totally wrong, he should be apologising and say so on facebook.
Fine example to his children.

travelgran

No, it's the child's behaviour that is the question. However it would make sense to go and talk with them at least. If the school is so bad why does he want them to remain there?

daska

Idiot. He can hardly complain if he hasn't actually spoken with the school about the perceived problems. Tell him to grow up.

marisco_2

A school cannot exclude children solely on the basis that their parents are not impressed with the running of the establishment. That would not be in the best interests of the children at all.

It was not a great idea to rant about the school on facebook, most of us know and accept that it is not a secure place to air views. If you have a grievance about someone and share it on there it will most likely get back to them.

Personally I think it would be a good idea for your friend to go in and put his point of view across to the school face to face. He may well have some valid points that the school does need to look into and address. His opinion of them may even go up if he is listened to and these problems are resolved. If he doesn't try he wont know. In which case he will be sending children into a school where he has no faith in the staff. I wouldn't want to do that long term. It may be that they dont listen or wish to address the problems in which case he may be rather wise to move his children somewhere better.

peachyprice

Hanging_by_a_thread wrote: »

He is concerned by something written in the last letter that suggests the school feel his opinion of them is so low that any relationship has completely broken down and he may wish to consider moving his children to an alternative school. They have asked again for him to go in and address these issues he has with them. Can the school exclude the children or have them moved solely on this issue if the children have caused no problems or issues at all?

That isn't really the same as excluding them, is it.

And I have to say, if he's so dissatisfied with the school that he feels the need to rant on facebook and won't even attend a meeting to discuss his dissatisfaction like an adult, I would share their sentiments.

Poor children.

Own_My_Own

If your friend thinks the school is that bad, why hasn't he moved his children to another one ?

Who would leave their children in a school they thought was so inadequate , and poorly run ?