whole class banned ...

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

DD is y6, they have been looking forward to a trip, bit as yet no letter or payment request to parents..
There are two other y6 classes, and in one of these a group of boys who play up, no respect .. as far as i know no parents are informed of their behaviour, so no strong home/schools consistancy.
Today DD comes home upset, these boys have been rude to a supply teacher, one of many, and the whole year trip has been cancelled. This isnt the first time this has happened, there were no trips in year 4 due to behaviour, and one in year 5.
How is this fair on 90 ish kids, minus a few? How can school think this is fair? Why should the majority of fairly on the whole well behaved kids be punished, and why the hell should they behave? We have nothing to say the trip was on, so how to I broach this?

[jubblie]

So their trip has been cancelled because of a behaviour incident that took place in another class? Has this come from the Head?

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Yes ... agreed via the head teacher. Its awful seeing kids upset as they have no control over others behaviour.

[jubblie]

That's crazy. Is there a behavior policy?

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Dd came home today ... shed been to a club at lunch time, but a few boys were hurting others in the play ground in a game the whole year were stood up fence and ranted at for being naughty ... all went down the naughty ladder ... even DD and her friend ... im fuming!!!

[tribpot]

What a bizarre way to react - this is definitely not right. And clearly the approach is having no effect on the troublemakers since this has happened three years in a row. Far better to exclude them from the trip as a punishment, surely?

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

One mom said, how is it a punishment if no one goes, so no one misses out? .... Im not sure where we stand as parents ...

[MrEBear]

Have other years in the school got to go away? There is a bit of me wonders if the teachers just don't actually want to run the trips and its just an excuse to pull the plug on it. Although why organize them in the first place? I'd try getting together with the other parents and complain to the head teacher about the whole thing.

[MrEBear]

I've just reread the head already knows. Tbh I think I'd complain to the L A or Ofsted as that can't be right. They are running the school like some sort of army boot camp.

[cansu]

LA and ofsted have no jurisdiction over routine decisions like this. They would only refer OP back to Head. Make an appointment or write letter saying what you are unhappy about and take it from there. It does not sound good but you may not have all the facts.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Other parents have spoken to the teacher. Its clear that 4 weeks in shes at breaking point. The facts are clear. This isnt the first time. My DD thinks this is normal to be punished like this when she wasnt even there. The children being rude did not expect to lose the class trip - not that they care - its not part of the behaviour policy -they werent warned - one out all out - the whole ethos is wrong. I will try LA. I have asked others the mention it at parents eve next week, because if they say all the kids are naughty then all the parents should be told. The kids feel worn down by it and its an unpleasent every day occurance.

[KittyandTeal]

That is totally wrong.

I have taught some really, really tough classes. I have dreaded school trips so I can understand where the class teacher is coming from. However, I have, on occasion, left certain children at school because I couldn't guarantee their safety or the safety of the other children if I took them.

I have never cancelled a trip because of a few childrens behaviour. Those children usually have a really tough life and need nurturing as well as strong boundaries. However, often in these cases the other children in the class actually need a nice, fun time, sometimes without those disruptive children, they need a break from it as it can be relentless for them.

I would have a very strong word with the head and say it's unacceptable and that if the trip isn't put back on you will be expecting an authorised absence to be granted on that day so you can take your DC out and do something nice and educational like a museum trip etc.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Thank you. I dont blame the children, I think they lack boundries at home one has additional needs, but they dont have extra staff in class, but i dont think they are handled well by the teachers. And I dont think the head is supportive. The other children blame the staff - not these kids - so there is no group mentality towards these boys, so it doesnt have the effect of winning them round. If that makes sense.

[jubblie]

I would raise it with the governors.

It sounds like a crap school though.

[TwoLeftSocks]

It sounds like a failure in the school's behaviour policy (or implementation of it) so I would contact the head by e-mail and copy in the chair of governors, you should be able to find an e-mail address on the school website. You should also be able to find the behaviour policy itself on the website too. Sounds pretty shit to be honest.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

The gov has a child in the year. He defends the school without question. The behaviour policy only deals with individual childrens behaviour, nothing states about class/year issues.
Parents are worried about the residential trip in April not going ahead.
I feel we are stuck and powerless. I will write to the LA and maybe the local MP. I do think grades are suffering due to this behaviour and general feeling of how they are treated.

[tribpot]

So not surprisingly, the behaviour policy does not specify sanctions to be levelled against an entire year group because of the actions of a few. It feels like the school must have some ulterior motive for not wanting to provide trips for the children and are scapegoating these boys to get out of them. Otherwise why not just exclude them and allow the other children to go?

I have to agree with jubblie, this sounds like a crap school. When did they last have Ofsted in?

[jubblie]

If you write a letter to the governing body presumably it would have to be raised at the governor's meeting? I'm not sure though - perhaps another poster would know more. Would a group of parents be willing to sign a letter? Even if the chair of governors is BFF with the Head, the rest of the governing body may have a different view.

I wonder how the parents of the scapegoated children feel about this. The child with AN presumably should be protected from such treatment under the equality act. Thankfully the other children recognise what's really going on here.

I agree with tribpot that it seems like an excuse to cancel the trip. If the teacher has poor behaviour management skills she/he may not cope at all with a trip out and the HT probably knows this.

In your shoes I might well be angry enough to write to the MP.I really don't know if writing to the LA would have any impact.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

I feel for the boys as well, there behaviour isnt being managed effectively ... I dont know them as such, but should imagine they egg each other on, but I cant see them being happy in school and that they will have bigger issues in high school. I dont know how the parents feel, it might be that they are equally fed up at the lack of support or communication, i wouldnt know if they know that their behaviour has resulted in no trip. Or if they have an opinion on that. They could be crap parents, or they could be struggling and need help. I dont really care as such because ultimately the adults are making the decisions, not the children.
I think i will writ to the govenors and see what response I get.

[jubblie]

Yes you are concerned about the impact on your own child (quite rightly). I was just pondering about the various ways in which the school are being totally crap here.

[jelliebelly]

That all sounds appalling - what kind of example is being set here for the future? Op ii'd be looking at other schools.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

A few children have left. Dd has some nice friends and is going to high school next September, I just would rather fix it, but no ones listening. I know one of the dinner ladies and she says they get no support and they are thinking of going on strike. I feel for them.

[bruffin]

When ds was in year 6 the boys were blamed for everything. The main culprits were the dinner ladie who let the girld and younger children get away with everything. A girl pushes in the queue and boys protest, the boys would get in trouble. A younger boy would launch themselves at a year 6 boy, the year 6 boy would be told off. Both girls and boys played up for french teacher, only boys got letters home.
The boys got very disheartened and fed up. They were fine with their class teacher.Boys like my ds who were never in trouble hated going onto the playground because of it.