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Original poster

15 yr old permanently excluded from school.

65 replies

caringdad66 · 19/01/2018 20:36

Looking for advice guys.
Been told it will be 6 weeks before the local authority can place him in another mainstream school.
Therefore for the next 6 weeks they want him to attend our local Pupil referral unit.
Am very wary of sending him here, due to its poor reputation.

Are these places ' schools of crime', or will he be better of going for 6 weeks whilst he awaits his new school placement?

Just to add , he was permanently excluded for assualting another student, who is thankfully not hurt or injured, but didn't deserve what my son did.

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 19/01/2018 22:26

A PRU is likely to offer only a limited range of subjects. We do English Lang/Lit, Maths, Double Science, ICT and an option (vocational or Art), but no humanities or languages. Most students will not be working at those grades. I only teach foundation tier Maths currently, although I would of course cover higher tier topics if we had a student who had been working towards these in mainstream. Good communication between both the old and new school would be essential, and IME, this is often lacking from the referring school.

guardianfree · 19/01/2018 22:24

Generally Governors do - but I have encountered 3 occasions (over a number of years) when they have overturned the Head's decision.

One was because of procedural problems and two were because the school's case was evidently unfair. You know your own child - if you think it is unfair and it's a one off - and he doesn't have a history of trouble - then it may be worth fighting it. BUT, often I have seen parents arguing with schools and unfortunately seeming to condone the unforgivable. Does your son need a 'shock' that the PRU followed by a mainstream school will give him and make him change whatever has got him into trouble?

BoneyBackJefferson · 19/01/2018 22:23

If it was one single incident and he was provoked and didn't actually injure the child then I would be pretty amazed if the permanent exclusion stood.

This ^

Wolfiefan · 19/01/2018 22:19

If it was one single incident and he was provoked and didn't actually injure the child then I would be pretty amazed if the permanent exclusion stood.

lljkk · 19/01/2018 22:17

If he's excluded, he can't go out in public places during school hours. I guess you know.

Original poster
caringdad66 · 19/01/2018 22:16

It hasn't been agreed by governors yet- I'm assuming they will back the head though

OP posts:
guardianfree · 19/01/2018 22:16

Here you are OP:

childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/school-exclusion/

guardianfree · 19/01/2018 22:15

Has the exclusion been agreed by the Governors yet? Not condoning violence BUT if it's a one off and IF there was provocation as you describe, then any exclusion needs to be proportionate to the incident so there may be a possibility of challenging it?

Wolfiefan · 19/01/2018 22:07

He was excluded for one incident when the other student wasn't hurt? Unlikely TBH.
Can you visit the PRU to form your own informed opinion? I would imagine they are all very different.

Original poster
caringdad66 · 19/01/2018 22:05

Thank you

OP posts:
strangerhoesagain · 19/01/2018 22:05

Hi- read your further posts.

Please accept my apologises.
I hope it works out for your son.

youarenotkiddingme · 19/01/2018 21:54

I'd make a list of things that went wrong and how your ds dealt with them. This will help you, him and new placements understand what support your ds needs.

He was clearly being bullied and either he reported correctly and it wasn't dealt with efficiently or he didn't have knowledge or the confidence to seek support through the correct channels.

Original poster
caringdad66 · 19/01/2018 21:52

He's year 10, top sets, target grades 7,8 and 9 for GCSES

OP posts:
Original poster
caringdad66 · 19/01/2018 21:51

Have to wait 6 weeks for school place because the LA ' fair access ' panel, don't meet again until 7 march.
They decide which mainstream school he is next allocated.

OP posts:
Cauliflowersqueeze · 19/01/2018 21:45

Is he Year 10 or 11?

CosmicCanary · 19/01/2018 21:44

Just ignore the OP.

I meant just ignore THEM OP. Sorry Blush

catlovingdoctor · 19/01/2018 21:43

I am sorry for my earlier comment. It sounds like he was victimised terribly and reacted after a lot of pressure.
When I was 15, I was attacked (assaulted) horribly by another student in front of everyone. It was really horrible and humiliating. So I tend to just react sweepingly when I hear about it happening.
I am sorry for the situation he and you are both in; I hate injustice.

Cauliflowersqueeze · 19/01/2018 21:43

Try not to worry. The PRU will give him access to a huge amount of support from many different agencies. Go there with an open mind. If he’s prepared to help himself it could be a really excellent experience. They will be very keen to help him get back on track.

CosmicCanary · 19/01/2018 21:43

Can I ask why the 6 week wait?

ASauvignonADay · 19/01/2018 21:43

Is it that the process in your LA is 6 weeks in a PRU, or just that it will be 6 weeks into a place is available?

In our LA you have to go to the PRU if pex'd, unless you go out of the city.

Some PRUs are brilliant, but I would avoid it if it's a possibility.

CosmicCanary · 19/01/2018 21:42

Just ignore the OP.
For some unless your child is perfect they will have a dig.

Original poster
caringdad66 · 19/01/2018 21:40

Always one unhelpful one😞

OP posts:
Original poster
caringdad66 · 19/01/2018 21:39

He assaulted the other student because they had set up a fake social media profile in son's name.
They then mocked and questioned his sexuality.
Son overreacted and got himself permanently excluded.

OP posts:
rcit · 19/01/2018 21:36

Personally, I'd try to get therapist and/or an educational psychologist to see what the issue is and how to help it. Maybe the PRU would do this for you for free, I don't know as they are so expensive to access (for the state) that it's almost impossible to send a child there in my area anyway. Perhaps they are so expensive because there is good help in there.

Do you know why he assaulted another student?

catlovingdoctor · 19/01/2018 21:36

He sounds like a little charmer.

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