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Original poster

Advice needed - withdrew secondary child from school

56 replies

CallmeFP · 17/09/2017 11:51

I am a parent with a child attending an academy in Fulham and Kensington.

I have been trying to ascertain since June the exam results and sets for my son since June and also request he be removed from a certain group at school which has made him very unhappy. I was assured by the assistant head that it would be looked into. He is Year 10 so it is a tricky situation.

I wrote 4 emails over summer, one of which was answered the rest ignored.

My son goes back to school to find he has been put in with the same group after I was assured he wouldnt be.

I write to the school, no answer. I call the assistant head who tells me that they didn't have time to look into it.

In a fury, I apply to council for new places for my child. I write to the head saying my son is leaving and outlining the reasons why, to which his answer in effect was 'bye and good luck in your new school'.

I am so utterly shocked at how they have handled it, stonewalling my emails and not trying to resolve it.

Now my son has not been at school for two weeks. I have rang the education officer who is aware of what is happening and I am home schooling until a new school place comes up.

Trouble is, my son now tells me he wants to go back to his school. I feel guilty for having jumped the gun and taken him out without trying again but the school were offering me no alternative.

My question is, does he still have a school place there and if he wants to go back can they stop him?

Many thanks

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 17/09/2017 12:22

Like I say, I've not come across someone in your situation so someone with more experience may correct me (I've only been involved as a tutor and class teacher).

Put it this way, if you've pulled your child out of the school and his place has been offered to someone else (who has done all their paperwork etc) it's not really fair to tell that child "you don't have a place now because someonr has changed their mind".

MaisyPops · 17/09/2017 12:18

The transfer form has been signed. In my experience that means he is off roll at that school. That's what you asked them to sign.

You may need advice from someone in SLT or pastoral for the details.

Usually when I've had students leave, they get their place agreed with their new school, the new school and us talk to make the move and the transfer form is the last part to be done (because parents would take that form to the new school so the child can then be formally enrolled at their new school).
Where places come up short notice (like we've had people join with a couple of days notice), the parents have had the transfer form from their old school ready to be signed and then they get it signed as soon as we offer the place.

Original poster
CallmeFP · 17/09/2017 12:16

So when schools receive the transfer form they are taken off the school list? Surely this cant be right?

OP posts:
Original poster
CallmeFP · 17/09/2017 12:13

Thank you and you are right

I did not give a date that he would be leaving or state that I would be taking him out immediately, I just said that he would be leaving and they signed his transfer form and he didn't return.

So legally he will not have a place at that school now?

Many thanks

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 17/09/2017 12:11

request he be removed from a certain group at school which has made him very unhappy. I was assured by the assistant head that it would be looked into.
Looking into isn't the same as moving children because home have called up.

I have had over half a dozen complaints about groups this year and I'm not even senior leadership. I looked into it. There isn't another group to move them to without home having another issue with the new group.

I wrote 4 emails over summer, one of which was answered the rest ignored
The clue is in 'summer'. Why should staff on holiday be replying to your emails? They are not at work.

I write to the head saying my son is leaving and outlining the reasons why, to which his answer in effect was 'bye and good luck in your new school
Fair do. You've said you're moving your son because you don't like the classes and you're annoyed they didn't reply over the summer.
A school isn"t going to grovel and persuade you to stay.

My question is, does he still have a school place there and if he wants to go back can they stop him?
It depends if there is a place in his year.
If it was my school then we have a waiting list for every year. As soon as the form was submitted to leave, we would have given the place to the next child on the waiting list.

It's not an ideal situation but you don't have any right to his place back after you removed him from the school.

CrumpettyTree · 17/09/2017 12:04

I think they should have let you know his exam results, although you wouldn't get a choice of what set he is in as the teachers are in the best position to know which set he should be in.
I wouldn't expect a reply to an email during the summer holidays. If you informed them he is leaving then they would accept that decision rather than pleaed with you to keep him in school and promise to do what you want. He won't still have the place i don't think, but they may have a space available for you to take up if they aren't full. It does sound as if you were a bit hasty if your son didn't want to leave. If there is a place for him to return maybe try to meet with them and discuss things, but you may have to accept that they don't want to do everything you want them to.