to think that when I ask school for DDs FULL record, I should get her FULL record...

[Vallhala]

... and not just what the Headteacher wants me to see?

DD2 is in big trouble at school, I am not happy at the way it's been handled and have a forthcoming make or break meeting with them so I emailed the HT for DDs school record.

I got sent docs on the incident itself, a copy of DDs attendance marks sheet and her summer term report. No copy of her admission form, no details of an earlier event where the HT made a decision which broke the law, no copies of any communications between the school and I, including one which I specifically asked them to place on DDs file.

I dread to think of what docs they have that I don't know about and which the HT is witholding.

So, I asked again. The HT responded that she had already sent me a copy of DDs file, as described above.

ARGH! AIBU to expect a degree qualified woman to comprehend the words FULL RECORDS and not to attempt to cover her arse instead?

[TheCoalitionNeedsYou]

FOI request.

[rupert22]

I dont really know what admission forms are about, but your comment that HT is covering her arse tells me your mind is made up the school is in the wrong

[FakePlasticTrees]

Data protection act request? Look on the gov website for the best wording, put your request in writing.

Point out you will go to the LEA if she doesn't provide what your entitled to see.

[CarGirl]

I would put in writing and copy to the governers, that you would like all documentation relating to your DD that the school holds on file includiny x y z as you would like to read them prior to the meeting.

Have you phoned your LEA and ask which documents you are entitled to see?

[TheCoalitionNeedsYou]

Doh - DPA is what I meant got FOI.

[Vallhala]

I have already made it a DP request! What more can I do?!

rupert, For the record, he school is not just "in the wrong" but has without question broken the law. How much more in the wrong do you want to get?

WRT the admissions form mention, that was just an example of what one would expect to see in a a copy of a child's FULL school record.

[TheCoalitionNeedsYou]

This is one suggested process for an incomplete disclosure.

www.consumerwiki.co.uk/index.php/Data_Protection_Act:_Non-Compliance

[rupert22]

I dont know the first detail of what the school has done, all i meant was that, as far as you know, maybe what she sent (she?) is all that they call a 'record' insofar as the other stuff is correspondance and not school record blurb.

Sorry if i angered you, i didnt mean to.I know this is a stressful time. x

[Mingg]

After the 40 days are up contact The Information Commissioner's Office. They will then contact the school on your behalf in order to get the missing documents.

[reallytired]

A school can not give you a full record where that would involve giving information out about another child or where there is a child protection issue.

For example, if brat X bit brat Y then brat Y's parents have no right to know what disciplinary action was taken against brat X.

This organistation might help you.

www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection.aspx

[Vallhala]

Oh no, my apologies rupert. I didn't mean to sound rude, I'm just SO pissed off with the damn school!

Thank you for your advice, ladies.

What I'm interested to see is what has been discussed/suggested might help DD "behind the scenes", in any in-house communications, AND how the HT got round or covered up her illegal action.

I'm not after info on other DC and realise that confidentiality is paramount here.

[Mingg]

You might need to request any and all documents relating to your DD rather than just her full record.

[Vallhala]

Mingg, but I have! I've worded it using every "any, not restricted to, including but not exclusively" and so on in the book!

And I've spotted something else in the HT's email.

She refers to "The only other statements relating to [Val's DD] are from her first day (May 6th) which were written by students who were concerned about {Val's DD] behaviour and these were the subject of the meeting I tried to organise with you on May 10th".

The HT had unofficially excluded DD on May 7th, which is utterly illegal. She refused to allow DD back into school until I met with her in the middle of the following week! That was the real reason for the meeting. The devious fucking bitch! [anger]

Now unsure whether to pull her on it and show my hand prior to meeting the Governors or whether to stay silent and risk accusations that her version must be true as I didn't contest her email account of it today. There is NO WAY she is going to admit to the LA and Governors that she broke the law, surely.

One thing for sure, she knows I'm having none of her bullshit. I took legal advice from ACE when DD received the illegal temporary exclusion and did as they said, which was to send DD in regardless as apart from me having a duty in law to ensure DD went to school and being at risk of problems if I didn't send her, they knew from experience that if parents ignored illegal exclusion and carried on regardless, schools tended to gulp, panic and then say nothing, carrying on as if nothing had happened.

I'd be intrigued as to what has been put on paper about the whole event though... if the cow would let me see it!

[Mingg]

Ah, I see. Lot of companies use different classifications so that they can legally avoid disclosure but as yours was not restricted to her records they should have disclosed everything they legally can to you.

Might be worth just acknowledging her email and noting that you wish to discuss the content in person. That way she can't claim to have thought you accepted her version of the events.

[Vallhala]

End of term in 2 days time, Mingg and besides I can't reach DDs school, having no access to a car or public transport from my village to school's, or I would go in and have it out with the cow discuss the contents in person.

Have sent ANOTHER email, reading:

"I fear I may not have made myself clear or that I have not termed my request properly. When I requested DDs full school record from the dates given, I was referring to any and all of the documents regarding my daughter held by X School and written, sent or received by the school or any other parties between 12th January 2010 to 19th July 2010. For example, I was asking to obtain DDs admission form, emergency contact details, copies of letters and emails between the school and I and so on. However, I have received none of these. I would also expect the school to possess in-house messages, notes, transcripts and soforth on my daughter, as well as items sent to or by other parties such as the Local Authority but I have not received these either.

Please would you send me a copy of each, any and every document held by X School and to which I am legally entitled concerning my daughter, XXXX XXXX, including an entire copy of my daughter's full school record if there is more to it than I have already received, and including, but not restricted, to all of the items I have mentioned in the examples above. I request this under the Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005."

Can I add, "Is that clear enough for you, FFS?"?

No? Huh!

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Are you sure the exclusion was illegal?

Is there a reason for requesting the emergency contact number sheet, admissions form etc or is it just to prove a point?

[Vallhala]

Absolutely and entirely sure that the exclusion was illegal, and confirmed by an education lawyer.

It's not about requesting a copy of admissions form, contact detail sheet etc, but these are just examples of what SHOULD have been included in the information, iyswim.

[imahappycamper]

When I asked for my DS' full record I got everything including the incident reports and summary. Where another child was mentioned someone had had to go through and Tippex out all the names. I wouldn't have expected to see anything written about another child. In most cases I knew who else was involved anyway. I would say that DS' school hadn't put anything they might regret ie all statements were factual, not opinions.
My DS was being excluded a lot at the time and I wanted to make sure his AS was being taken into account.

[SecretSlattern]

I thought under data protection though that anything related to any third party could only be included if the third party had given their permission? Maybe any third parties have refused permission and that is why they will not let you see everything? Or maybe they didn't ask permission in the first place? Or maybe I'm just talking rubbish?

[coventgarden]

But in that case they should have told Vallhala that.

[Vallhala]

But, Secret, in many instances I am the third party!

For example, I emailed the school and specifically asked them to put a copy of it on DDs file.

It wasn't in with the documents I received last week in response to my request for a copy of my DDs FULL school record.

So, either they didn't put it, or any other email I have sent the school, on file... or they did, but are unwilling to give me a copy.

This is just one example, there's a lot that I haven't received and that I want and need in order to represent DD at the forthcoming meeting.

[coventgarden]

Just a tip - in future make your own copies.

[mumtoabeautifulbabyboy]

Lots of good advice has been given.
Can the educational lawyer you contacted help you to get the information you require?

Now, I am just being nosy...Your daughter's first day was May 6th and she was 'unofficially excluded' on the 7th!? Was it more that your daughter's first day didn't go well and the head thought it was better for yoour daughter not to go back until you could all have a meeting about how best to proceed?

You sound very unhappy and I do hope that the situation works out well for your daughter. What year is she in?

[TheFallenMadonna]

We wouldn't put a copy of every email we receive from a parent on file, and we certainly wouldn't keep a copy of every email we exchange between staff. I do sometimes keep a copy for my own records, but not held centrally.

[Vallhala]

What you describe mumtoabeautifulbabyboy is pretty much how it was put across, but regardless of that it is an illegal action and an UNOFFICIAL EXCLUSION

She's in Year 8 atm. The advice given to me by ACE was that should I comply with the unofficial exclusion I would be breaking the law as my child must have a f/t education appropriate to her age, aptitude and ability. By not following procedure, the school was denying her that.

(I'm not unhappy per se, bless ya, just very miffed that the HT can act in an illegal manner and then piss me about on top!).