Aibu to try and overturn my son’s permanent exclusion

Sorry OP not in any way I can see. The school has to be concerned about all the children and irrespective of your family history (which is horrific and awful) other children shouldn’t be exposed to that level of violence in school. The majority of children would never have known that sort of violence nor should any child. A school should be a safe place.

It isn’t the right place for your son who clearly can’t control his anger.

Punching a kid four times in the face/head at that age is horrific. If your son did that to my kid I would want him excluded and would fight to have him stay excluded. Think of the other child.

Then that seems...odd. And to my mind a failing by the school.

You’ve had excellent advice already from Hoppinggreen and others.

If you haven’t already, get onto gov.uk and read the guidance on school suspensions and permanent exclusions. One important thing to note is that, after the governors’ meeting, the next (optional) stage, if you want to pursue it, isnt an appeal - it’s a review. The independent review panel will be focussed on whether the permanent exclusion was lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair.

Something jumped out at me from one of your previous posts:
"when we came to the school we were told to forget everything and this is a new start with it been said no one will know about my son’s background".

Now, if they just meant that he had a clean slate from the point of view of his own behaviour, that was an act of compassion. But if they mean that the staff wouldn't know that they had to use a trauma informed approach to your son, because of the horrific situation he had come from, then actually I think you do have an argument that the school failed your son. And presumably you know which was meant - if it was the second one, then mention it in any appeal/discussion with PRU etc

1000%?

I think you should 1000% fight it. get proper advice, but until then use ChatGPT as best you can to help you write a case. Is he doing well in school? Include that in it. How is his behaviour at school normally? Include that in it and include everything about the domestic violence past. If he’s in therapy, get him into it or sign him up to some.

Once he’s in a behavioural unit, the education won’t be the same and he will probably leave with very poor grades regardless of how well he does now. At least you can say you tried, even if you are unsuccessful.

Incident was more serious than first thought? New evidence from CCTV, witnesses etc?

Extent of boys injuries come to light?

@TesChique but why would that have changed from when the decision to suspend was made

I wouldn't overturn an exclusion that began immediately after a suspension of five days and in exceptional circumstances, no.

The immediate threat to safety of the pupils is, I imagine, that exceptional circumstance.

@TesChique you wouldn’t even overturn if the school had unlawfully turned a suspension into an exclusion?

I am sorry but I honestly don't know.
We review each case individually and speak to the child/parents/teachers and any other relevant parties.
Even with all that its not my place to suggest what is best for the child. I am just there to ensure proper procedure
I have on occasion asked the Teacher (not in front of the child or parents) if they will reconsider but if not then I can't do anything and to be honest I do usually take the lead from the teachers as I know them well and know they really try very hard to do what is best for all the children in the school.
The Deputy Head who usually oversees the PX has the patience of a Saint.
I can't speak for all schools but at our PX is a last resort and not a decision taken lightly
My DC were at Private and just one in the (often very long list) of things a child has done at the school would have seen them expelled. I appreciate that your son only acted once and there was mitigation but I think that the level of violence shown means this school is not the best place for your son

Completely ignore @ViewFromTotherSide post. No, you will not be able to sue the school, the suggestion is laughable.

@ThatRealBlueQuoter The previous secondary school I taught in, a Y10 boy punched another boy who said something about his mum, and knocked him out, then punched him again, despite this boy being unconscious. Then then punched the teacher who pulled him off the child.

He was PEXed but appealed, and won his appeal based on his home circumstances.

But... both teacher and child pressed charges, and the police stated he was not to set foot on the school grounds, so he ended up having to do online lessons via a website which he hated.

It's great that your son understands the severity of what he has done, but sometimes in these circumstances a fresh start would be much better.

I used to be a governor

This will not get overturned.

There's not a governing board in the land thatll not back a HT excluding a pupil who punched someone FOUR TIMES in the head.

Rightly so.

Your sons lucky hes not facing charges! If i were the other sons mother he would be.

Focus on working out his issues instead

Hi, I'm so sorry you and your family went through that, poor boy. Has he had any counselling? Did the school know his past trauma?

The head teacher made the correct decision, your son is not safe to have in the school after what has happened. That is the bottom line. He can still sit his exams at the centre and go on to further study. How is he feeling now?

Ratafia, I'm not sure how many permanent exclusion packs you've seen. Other students involved are always referred to as A, B, C etc with only the PEX student named. There is no written element of describing the problems between particular students and even a behaviour log will be redacted.

I am not so sure, at all the PX panels I have sat on we never got the names of any other children other than the ones in front of us.
We have had "X(Px'd child) and the other child involved have had issues before" or similar and I have seen a Head tie themselves in knots to not describe a child as a liar or troublemaker but make it clear they are.

Not correct. Names should be given in case they are relevant, e.g. if the witness is someone with a grudge or is a known liar, or couldn't have seen what they said they did because they weren't there. If there is a particular reason for keeping a name quiet, the school will have to make a case for it.

Yes this is all completely true
When we hold a PX panel we ask parents to bring Bank Statements so we can make sure we only treat poor kids unfairly.

@ThatRealBlueQuoter the pack you receive for the panel meeting should be redacted so no other names of young people should be included and they won’t be mentioned by name in the meeting, it will be child A etc. Governors should not know who the other student involved is.

The text messages you are receiving are a separate matter and should be reported to school

@ThatRealBlueQuoter

Just a hunch! The school I work in - there is a child I can see heading for exclusion - and he ONLY acts out when it’s a certain member of staff who doesn’t handle him the right way. Yet, that member of staff is never asked to address their behaviour management strategies - it’s always deemed to be the fault of the child.
That’s great that your son did that. I’d take copies of the letter he wrote to the meeting, that’s genuine remorse.

We had a child who needed surgery after they were pushed over - same boy who pushed child was biting, scratching, drawing blood. Affluent family so it was all hushed. Child is MUCH better now and doing well.
Anothdr child who - I’m sure - is on the path to exclusion has not behaved as badly as this at all, but less affluent family and he is getting completely different treatment.

I really don't think it would be advisable for the OP to go to the police. What would she say when the police ask why she thinks this boy is sending nasty messages? "Oh, well, last week my son punched him in the head 4 times"? If the police aren't involved at the moment, the OP and her son should take that as a win.