To not see the point of suspending pupils from school

[LEMisdisappointed]

Spurred on by the intellectual hothouse that is "my parents are aliens" where Mel was suspended from school for breaching school uniform rules, it got me wondering about this.

The government have recently changed the rules regarding holiday absences so no absecne during term time unless its life or death etc. This rule was passed, i assume, to ensure that all children attend school, especially from families that were lax about this sort of thing. Families which may have children who are more likely to be disruptive in school.

I hated school, but wasn't a naughty child, however i would have been delighted to be suspended! I mean, two weeks or however long off school. I should imagine that many children would feel the same way and some parents may not give a fig.

What does it achieve and isn't rather contrary in light of recent changes in the laws regarding unauthorised absence. I know a suspension is authoried but it would be as disruptive to a childs education (possibly more so) than a child being taken out for the reason of a holiday.

Just wondered

[Justforlaughs]

Most suspensions now seem to be "internal" ones, where the pupil still attends school but has to spend their time in isolation, including breaks and lessons.
Having said that my own DS will go out of his way to achieve this, mainly by refusing to attend detentions for minor infringements as he finds it far more fun to sit and talk about rugby to the 2 rugby mad supervisors than attend lessons that he dislikes!

[WestieMamma]

Suspension is only supposed to be used as a last resort.

[BaronessTeapot]

I agree.

Unless the suspension is in place whilst some kind of investigation is carried out, I can't see the point.

[Eyesunderarock]

Suspension rarely achieves what the imposers want it to. Most children in that position are happy to have time out of school.

[LEMisdisappointed]

ah, can you tell i have a primary age DD?

[ThisWayForCrazy]

I agree. My eldest (MHD) has been suspended many times. He thinks its pointless

[ouryve]

Our head doesn't exclude. She sees no point in sending kids home to play on the XBox or whatever. If necessary, a child will spend time in isolation or with a senior teacher but it would take something dire to send a child home.

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

Suspension can also be for the safety of other students, while things are put into place.

[LEMisdisappointed]

You do read/hear about cases where children are suspended for the wearing of the wrong shoes and "inappropriate" hair cuts and piercings though. That surely is the definition of pointless

[ilovesooty]

So Justforlaughs - how are you and the school addressing that situation?

[TheCatIsUpTheDuff]

I was suspended for a day for smoking, aged 17. My mum was so disappointed in me that I was much more careful not to get caught after that, so as far as the school could tell, they'd succeeded in modifying my behaviour.

[xylem8]

Actually that is a good way to avoid a holiday penalty, to get your kids suspended just before you go!!

[LEMisdisappointed]

Send them to school with mohicans, fake tatoos and giant lip peircings - you could have a point there xylem :)

[Nerfmother]

Exclusion is always a sanction, and shouldn't be used for any other reason!

[Nerfmother]

Euphemia - I did. I disagree. Support etc should be put in place to avoid an exclusion. Exclusions are a sanction. Children who need support shouldn't have to miss out on school to get that support sorted.
As a sanction, not sure it always works.

[bigbluebus]

My DS has been excluded on more than one occasion due to behaviour issues (he has a DX of ASD).
The school have on each occasion provided him with work from each subject that he is missing lessons for whilst he is at home. The letter advising of the exclusion also says that he should not be in a public place during school hours without a valid reason - so xylem8 your idea of getting them excluded just before going on holiday wouldn't work unless you made a quick getaway in the night out of the country
Children placed in internal exclusion should still be doing the work they would be doing if in the classroom - just in an isolated environment.
If an exclusion/suspension seems like a 'jolly' to the child then it is the school that is at fault for not following appropriate procedures.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

LEMisdisappointed
"You do read/hear about cases where children are suspended for the wearing of the wrong shoes and "inappropriate" hair cuts and piercings though. That surely is the definition of pointless"

Its as much about the parents backing the school as punishing the pupils.

xylem8 "Actually that is a good way to avoid a holiday penalty, to get your kids suspended just before you go!! wink"

Point proven FYI if you where found to be on holiday you would get fined as you are required to keep your children in the house.

[BrokenSunglasses]

Suspension can be something that is used to make parents take action. It's just sending the signal that the behaviour was unacceptable, and very serious. One of my friends was suspended for two days when we were at school, her parents grounded her for a month and barred her from using the phone for all that time too. Being grounded was much worse than being suspended for her, but the grounding wouldn't have happened without the suspension.

What else are schools supposed to do when they have so little power? sometimes it can give the school the chance to see how other children get on without they presence of the ringleader or main troublemaker.

I understand why it would be pointless for some children that are completely disengaged and have parents who are the same, but for some children and their parents, it will be a wake up call that is needed and ends up being beneficial.

[LEMisdisappointed]

Thats an interesting comment boney - i agree, to an extent but what about the child who goes in scruffy trainers because the parent can't afford or can't be arsed to buy appropriate footwear?

[cansu]

Tbh I think the suspension is a way of signalling to parents that their child needs discipline from them as well. It inconveniences the parents and flags up that the behaviour is v unacceptable.

[nennypops]

It's unlawful to suspend a child for school uniform issues. The most a school can do is send the child home to change into the right uniform, and even then only if it's safe to do so.