Son's secordary school nightmare - update.

[Smowball]

Ok, I have finally managed to get his school to sihn their part of the council form to put him on the waiting list for a place at another school, when one every comes up! But the nightmare continues. In Science last week he went to up teachers desk to ask something, got back to his seat and his exercise book, with all of his work since last September, was on the floor ripped to shrehs and covered in water. Nobody saw who did it(yeh right!) and nobody was told off. Went up school next day and was assured that the 3 main trouble makers had been moved to another class. He gets intoday to say that the 3 said pupils were still in his class, and while he was doing his work on sheets of paper( because his book was ruined) one of the girls came up to him and again ripped the paper to shreds. he put his hand up to tell the teacher(who was a substitute) who said to him, oh these things happen. Same girl in Spanish smacked him around the face with a dictionary. There are no places yet in any other school and |I cant home school him - what do I do???

[Smowball]

Excuse spelling in main Q, am just stressed and typing too quickly : (

[tonyav]

Could you not keep him at home, you could phone the school and tell them you are keeping him at home until these culprits are definitely removed from your son's class.

[Smowball]

Hi tonyav, dont think the school are really going to do any such thing. And have just found out that when he goes on a school trip to France for 9 days next month, a water activities holiday - kayaking etc - one of these girls is going - the main ringleader - and I cannot believe that the school is letting her go on what is a potentially very dangeous experience with water, lakes, etc. Am now worried sick.

[gness]

Smo. As you know I kept my son away from school for about five months until another one was found. It`s a risk though. They can be quick to take you to court. But you have to protect your child.
More nagging at the school. Ask if you can make impromptu visits on a daily basis as you are worried about his welfare in these out of control circumstances.x

[shoota]

Have you considered an injunction?
Drastic but if needs must.....or an allegation of common assault to the Police. It just might make the school sit up and take notice.
He shouldn't have to put up with this kind of behaviour.

[Muffinbear]

Your county council website should have a complaints procedure - I would complain to County. As for the holiday, if the educational value is not high - I would not send him and forfeit the money (I know this is easy to write, but surely it's better safe than sorry and you will only spend the week worrying)

[tonyav]

Yes smowball this sounds like a very worrying situation, if I were you i would have to not let my son go if that little scroat is going. I hope you can get this very bad situation resolved quickly.

[Anngel123]

How does you son feel about the trip? I had a similar issue, although less violent , with my daughter at school. It is truly upsetting to be so helpless. Sending positive thoughts your way. Unfortunately, schools have had most of their disciplinary powers taken away and have to jump through so many hoops to sort things out they often don't. I would sit down with him, if he is not as upset as you are then the trip is OK. IF he is upset, I would make an appointment to see the headmaster. Cancel the trip and ask for a complete refund.

[daffy654]

My eldest daughter went through similar when we lived in Hull (she was 12). I took her out of school and refused to send her back into education until they found her a place at another school. They threatened to prosecute me but I called their bluff by explaining to them that I would love my day in court to explain to the magistrate about the bullying that had occurred and the complete lack of action from the school and EA. They found her a new school fairly quickly after that.

[daffy654]

^^^^ I meant to say that she was at home for 3 months before they gave in to my demand.

[Vicasso]

If you are not doing it already, I would keep a diary of these incidents and send a copy to the school principal regularly.

[shoota]

Do you know who the governor's are? They could speak to the head and stir him up.

[Smowball]

I agree with you all, and am so very upset at the moment. I know i could prpbably home school him if it came to it, but I was told that it would make the authorities less likely to offer him a place if I take him out of the environment that i am complaining about. Have just left anther message at the school asking them to call me. Think maybe yes, I need to badger them to death daily

[Barmaid]

Smowball - I've not kept up with this so I don't know the history.

1) Have you been to see the Head of Year/Headteacher?
2) Have you discussed with them the options for moving?
3) You need to write a long letter of complaint and copy to the school governors to see what (if anything) is being done.
4) Only other thing you can do is apply for a place at another school. When you are refused, you then need to appeal to an Independent Appeals Panel for the new school's refusal to admit your son. THe more cogent evidence you have the better.

[Smowball]

I dont know who the governors are - but i could find out. I do know that they are very reluctant to expel/suspend anymore pupils as apparently they are only allowed to do that for a certain percentage, then they just have to work with the others?

[Smowball]

I have had meeting with form tutor, year head, deputy head. Cannot for love nor money get a meeting with actual head. have applied to 2 other schools but they both have long waiting lists, spoke to them again today.

[Barmaid]

Are you in England or Wales? Because sounds to me like you are being told a load of poppycock.

Apply to the new school. When refused, ask to Appeal (the refusal will be on the basis that the school has reached its PAN). Ignore the "waiting list" and go straight to an IAP - they alone can put a child into school above the PAN. The LA can't except on certain statutory grounds.

[gness]

Smo. I didn`t home school other than the things I normally did with my children. He was at home because the school was unsafe and I made frequent calls to NCC Ed Dept to ask, very nicely, if they had found an acceptable place for him. Make them sick of hearing from you. I have been on both sides of the fence and I know they can do it.

[shoota]

Is there a 'home beat' Police Officer or a schools liaison officer who you might approach for help?
A smack round the face with a dictionary is an assault and if the head/governors knew that you felt strongly enough to get the Police involved you may get action without actually having to make an actual crime report.
I had to go into schools numerous times in my career to sort out various things, bullying/assaults being one of them and it does tend to focus the attention of the staff.

[Barmaid]

The School's Admission Authority (whether it be the school acting as their own admissions authority or the LA) CAN ONLY admit children above PAN on certain statutory grounds. That is why the best course of action is to appeal for a place at a new school through an IAP.