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Original poster

talented athlete no support from school

29 replies

pc2239 · 20/11/2010 18:19

I was wondering if anyone could tell me if we have any rights in relation to my son.He is the current under 12 WAKO kickboxing champion and the under 16 world silver medalist.(won Sony pictures search for the UK karate kid) He trains 5 days a week totaling 15 hrs yet his school will not give him any support.Even at this young age his ambition is to run a martial arts academy or get into films.The school will not allow him to drop some subjects in order that he can do his homework and further his training in school time.Any advice would be appreciated.I want my son to have a balanced education however he has shown immense ability and potential and deserves his schools support.We applied for a sports academy but was refused as we do not live in the correct catchment area

OP posts:
BlockedPoster · 20/11/2010 19:16

Your son's extra curricular activities are nothing to do with the school. It's the school's job to educate him, not to cherry pick the basics of his education on the basis that he has an outside interest in which he has achieved a great deal of success.

And yes he doesn need a rounded education because a) what if he sustains an injury that ends his career and b) to broaden his mind.

SoStressedAndConfused · 20/11/2010 19:12

The school will be keen to educate him in accordance with the national curriculum. If you want to deviate from this then I would contact either his sport's governing body or Sport England for advice.

Original poster
pc2239 · 20/11/2010 19:09

thanks for the reply but he would still have his core skills,ie English,maths ,science ,He does not need music,art and food tech to achieve his goals or even go to university if he so chooses.

OP posts:
moid · 20/11/2010 18:24

I suspect they think that qualifications are important.

If he wants to run his own martial arts academy then he will need business skills. If he gets seriously injured, god forbid(like some footballers do) then he might want to have enough skill. Or maybe he will get to 18 and change his mind and wish that he had got the qualifications and go to university.

I can't imagine you have any rights with the school. If you think it is important then you can move, home educate etc..