Permanent/Temporary Exclusions

[pinkbabytots]

The other week I was called into my sons school for what they called an 'extraordinary meeting'. They apparently had concerns about a minority of pupils. It turns out that they called about 40 parents in. Each parent had a meeting with one of the teachers. It turns out that they want us to sign a contract (each parent was handed the same copy of a contract). The contract states that they are giving our children one absolute, definite FINAL WARNING. Furthermore, if they fail to comply with the rules and principles of learning then they would send our children home to work for no more than one week. On return to school if there were no improvement then they would seek a position at another school for them!!!! As stated previously, all parents were asked to sign the same contract. I was furious and refused to sign it. My son goes into his final year at school in September this year. Whilst I know that he's trailing behind academically, he is not a naughty children. He has never been in trouble at school at all. I thought they could only do this kind of thing to disruptive children. To my mind, it's like a permanent exclusion if they were to send my son to another school. I think its all about statistics and making sure the school comes out with good exam results. They just want to farm out any children who are not coming up to the school standards instead of helping them. There is also a rumour going round school that if any of the parents don't sign it then the Headmaster will get rid of the pupil concerned anyway!!! Can they legally do this? Has anybody got any suggestions how I deal with this?? Thanks in advance

[Suzyboo]

If the contract is conditional upon behaviour and your child is well behaved then what is the problem with signing it?

[Lil O'lady]

I think Pinkbaby has a fair point though. This meeting has caught you off balance and you are angry. First you need to become less angry, and then ask for another formal meeting with the Headtacher and head of year. The simple point is this: if your son's behaviour has become so bad that you are being asked to agree to a contract, which may remain on his file, why have you not been contacted before this point? Ask to have copies of the schools policy for behaviour management and see how this policy compares with the process you have just experienced.
Schools avoid getting rid of pupils as far as possible, as each lost pupil represents lost revenue, so your school won't be getting rid of pupils for no good reason.
But it comes back to the fact that you should have been told if your son was misbehaving a long time ago.
You will need to be honest with yourself too - have you been going to parents evenings? Has the school tried to contact you? Have there been any indications that your son was with a bad crowd, that you maybe haven't picked up on?
Parents are often reluctant to believe the worst of their kids and to resolve the situation you are faced with youmay need to accept unpalatable truths.
If there is no behavioural problem and if the school are unable to justify their demand that you sign this contract, I suggest that you write to ther chair of governors and the local education director and complain about their actions.

[pinkbabytots]

Thanks Lil O'lady for that.

In answer to your questions, I have always attended parents evening and it's always the same that my son could do a lot better. Never once had they said that he has been misbehaving. I know of other children who are constantly rude and disruptive in class which has resulted in temporary exclusions for the child concerned. The school don't mess about when it comes to things like this. I know if my son was disruptive then he too would have had a temporary exclusion, bt he has not.

Thank you for your advice and I will write to the chair of governors and local education director.