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Original poster

Secondary discipline - what are our rights?

38 replies

manitz · 02/10/2018 19:29

Dd1 is y11 just got a detention for tomorrow but works after school so can’t go. I’ve emailed school to suggest a different evening and got no reply. May get something in morning.

She doesn’t generally get detentions so this is the first time it’s come up. How do schools generally view after school work? Do they recognise that it’s a commitment that outweighs their punishment?

We got the letter at 3 today and det is at 3 tomorrow. She won’t be attending detention as that is not enough notice to have time off work imo. Im happy for her to be punished another evening..,

OP posts:
Hellohah · 02/10/2018 19:52

www.gov.uk/school-discipline-exclusions

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 02/10/2018 19:51

I’m not sure you have a legal right here. They have to give you 24hrs notice in writing so you can raise any issues, but they aten’t obliged to change it just because you’ve raised an issue. You’re going to have to rely on the good nature of the school.

I’d be looking into the policy for what happens if a detention is missed tbh.

MaisyPops · 02/10/2018 19:51

They have to have your permission to keep them after school - youdo not have to give it
School do not have to have consent for detentions, they just won't forcibly detain. The missed detention will just count as a missed detention and will follow up the policy accordingly.

The idea of 'don't give consent becaus they can't make you' comes up here a lot. It isn't true.

seem to be punishing kids who are generally doing alright & im not sure it’s much of a motivator.
A behaviour policy has to consistently sanction all students. A system that says Timmy can have a detention for X but Sarah doesn't get a detention for X because she's normally so good is a crap behaviour policy.

op
Work, clubs whatever doesn't get priority. A detention is a sanction ran by school to fit alongside after school meetings, professional development etc. It's not something that slots in conveniently with the student's life.

That said, if a parent called me and said 'look Mrs pops we totally support school and the detention but this one is causing real issues' then I'd offer another evening but it would an evening fitting with my work schedule, not one of their choosing.

BoneyBackJefferson · 02/10/2018 19:49

manitz
Yes I offered them Friday

So if the teacher has commitments on that night she should just drop them?

What what would happen at my school is that it would go down as a missed detention and go to the next sanction.

Hellohah · 02/10/2018 19:48

@Green Tulips... schools don't need permission from parents to keep kids after school for punishment. I thought they would, but we had a letter from DS's school informing this and I looked it up on the government website. Schools don't even have to inform parents of after school detentions at all.

Original poster
manitz · 02/10/2018 19:47

Ok that’s great. I don’t want to be at loggerheads with the school over this as I try to be supportive even if I don’t always agree. But this job gives her great experience (wish it was only 2 eves) & I don’t want her to lose it as they are offering to pay for training.

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 02/10/2018 19:47

If she has work straight after school, how is she going to cope when there are after school revision sessions later in the year?

C0untDucku1a · 02/10/2018 19:46

Tell het year tutor to put on the school statem she can do detentions on x and y night due to work commitments.

GreenTulips · 02/10/2018 19:42

They have to have your permission to keep them after school - youdo not have to give it

So in this case you are giving it, just a different evening

Original poster
manitz · 02/10/2018 19:40

I replied to the email as soon as I got it. Just not sure if paid work gets precedent over just had other plans.

OP posts:
Original poster
manitz · 02/10/2018 19:38

Yes I offered them Friday. I’m a bit frustrated with her as she’s committed to 3 evenings of work this year. I’m a bit frustrated with the school as they keep amending their punishment policy and seem to be punishing kids who are generally doing alright & im not sure it’s much of a motivator.

In this case I think she deserves it. Just getting fed up as I seem to get a det letter every week as dd2 is constantly forgetting stuff. Plus I thought in y11 they might treat them a bit more like adults. Sorry just ranting.

OP posts:
Anasnake · 02/10/2018 19:35

24 hours notice is pretty normal in many schools. What time did you email school ?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 02/10/2018 19:33

Have you said in your email that you are happy for her to have a detention at another time OP?