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Original poster

dd has been expelled from school Y11, anybody with experience of PRU please come and talk to me

57 replies

expelledfromschool · 08/09/2011 16:25

dd started the new term on tuesday, I received a call that afternoon to tell me that the school were expelling her. I have since found out that it isn't expulsion but a managed move to a PRU for two days and vocational training on the other days.

She has been on a monitoring card last year and we were warned if she failed, this would be the outcome. In the last meeting that I attended first week of June, I was told that she was failing the card. The cards which she brought home didn't reflect this because I was told she had to get over a certain % which she had. I was then told that they were going off emails from her teachers. The inclusion teacher couldn't explain why there was a discrepancy, instead of me just relying on the card that she would email me weekly regarding any behavioural issues. She would be in touch before the end of term to arrange another meeting.

I never received a single email, the card again didn't reflect failing although neither did it reflect excellent behaviour. I wasn't contacted for a meeting so naively thought things were improving. So I am feeling a little shocked to get a call on the first day of term.

The behaviour that has caused this : rude, uncooperative, can't take a telling off has to have the last word, etc etc.

No violence, drugs etc.

I am really worried about the kind of children she will be mixing with, although she obviously has a bad attitude towards authority in school she has never been in trouble with police or anybody outside of school.

The other problem is that the school she attends is out of the borough although it is only a mile away. Due to this the PRU she is to attend is in the same borough but a lot further about fifteen miles, three buses and in a VERY rough area (think shameless). The local PRU is only two miles away.

She is really devastated and came home on the first day full of the joys, determined to change until I burst her bubble. I have told her the choices she has made have led her to this, and she needs to take responsibility for her own actions. Her sidekick at school tends to load the bullets and then stand back whilst dd fires the gun so I am relieved that they will now be separated.

Please share your experiences with me if any of your dc's have attended a PRU, positive or negative.

Please don't flame me, I know my dd has been disrupting other dc's education, I know I have obviously failed as a parent so if you want to tell me what I already know don't bother.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 08/09/2011 17:24

I agree with katiej12. This sounds very harsh and also does not sound like the school has followed the correct process. Permanent exclusion should be a last resort. The inconsistency between the monitoring cards and the schools actions rings alarm bells. From what you have posted it does not sound to me like the school has got anywhere near exhausting its options. Was there a specific incident on the first day that triggered this? If the school hasn't told you I would definitely ask the question.

The governors must review the decision to exclude your daughter and you are entitled to meet with them to put your views. If the governors confirm the exclusion you are entitled to an independent appeal.

Has your daughter been permanently excluded before? I ask because the rules change somewhat if it is her second permanent exclusion.

maypole1 · 08/09/2011 17:23

EssW2 yes keep a disruptive child in the school
So she and both her classmates and fail in getting a education while hours of the day are taken up by one child

Appeals should be for children who are being kicked out who have done NOTHING wrong the op her dd is a nightmare at school

And the fact her behaviour is so bad she herself is showing she cannot cope with in a main steam provision

maypole1 · 08/09/2011 17:19

katiej12 depends what school she is at my sons school have a zero tolerance for bad behaviour and expect that parents to get their children in hand or their out to be honest I wish more schools were the same and we wouldn't have so many sink school were badly behaved children were left to learn zero

Op You worried about the type of child your dd will be mixing with I am afraid children like yours

"The behaviour that has caused this : rude, uncooperative, can't take a telling off has to have the last word, etc etc. "

She will be mixing with children like herself some more so some less so

So I am feeling a little shocked to get a call on the first day of term.

You can't really be that shocked, you haven't failed its what you know do to correct her wayward ways know

Are you still letting her swan round with a bb or I phone, has she acess to a computer other than for school work

Is she able to go about her social life un harassed if so then I would closely take a look at that

My vie is is if you can't be trusted in school with adults you cannot be trusted to go out on your own

You have no business having a mobile or to be on face book until you can behave

If you have not put any restrictions on her you are part of the problem if you have well you can only do your best

cornsylk · 08/09/2011 17:16

do a shout out for tethersend in active convos

TalkinPeace2 · 08/09/2011 17:13

Book a meeting with her teacher, head of year and head of pastoral and the inclusion teacher.
Take with you a good friend who has no temper at all, has a very thick skin and is EXCELLENT at taking notes.

Ask to see the paperwork and find out what has REALLY gone on.
PRUs are mind numbingly expensive.
This will not have been permitted unless there was a real problem.

It may be that they are using the PRU as a sort of 'boot camp' to shock her into a bit of common sense.

EssW2 · 08/09/2011 17:00

Is it an Academy school?
Some have a very short fuse for ousting students and do so quickly in order to keep thier reputation and results up. They don't have the same obligations to hold on to and educate children that community schools do.

Is there no process of appeal? You should surely be able to appeal given the discrepancies between the monitoring card and the e mails.

katiej12 · 08/09/2011 16:55

Teacher perspective here:
I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but this sounds VERY mild to result in permanent exclusion (a child pulled a knife on me and was not expelled). First of all, I would be finding EXACTLY what has gone on, because otherwise she'll have the same problems in the PRU. You also need to find out if she can still take english and maths at GCSE and push for this if not. I have some experience of managed moves but I'd rather not give the details on a public forum just in case, please PM me if you want more information. Finally, take a deep breath and try to focus on where you go from here rather than blaming yourself- I'm sure you did the best you could and ultimately as you have said she is responsible for her actions!!

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