Permanent Exclusion..... Next Options

There is an Independent SEMH school in Rugby that offers GCSEs?

witherslackgroup.co.uk/avon-park-school/

Are there any fe colleges locally offering a 14-16 programme?

if that school doesn't work out also, could you look into home tutoring? so you can get a tutor for a certain time period each day. eg: maths tutor comes for 3 hours on a monday, sets homework. english tutor on tuesday, science wednesday, language thursday, and then revision of the week on friday? if the tutors each came for 3 hours, then he would still be getting enough lesson time to sit the GCSEs. he could also use the friday to get some extra qualifications, eg by volunteering at a local charity shop or completing an informatics course, both of which look good on a CV x

@alwaysgettingitwrong

We are in Derbyshire and he goes to Alderwasley school

They have to offer him a school, he's entitled to that - whether you accept what they are offering is a different matter of course. Your options are going to be pretty limited without diagnosis, few private schools would take him and Sen schools tend not to have an academic focus. Approach your council and demand help basically

CraftyGin the school you work in is unusual, I don't think you should paint the picture that there is somewhere like that in every authority. I've done 20 years in specialist SEMH/ HFA and worked in 5 LAs across the south of the country and I have never come across a regular, mainstream Independent school full of kids on EHCPs for SEMH. Where do you draw the line before calling that an Independent Special(ist) School?

Anyway, there are good settings out there with high expectations. The way forward for the OP is to liaise closely (and persistently!) with her caseworker. Not just to start bowling up hopefully to local private schools.

pressed send too early:

they do a fair range of GCSEs so may be worth a look x

sorry, i missed you saying that before. I don't know the area very well, but is this school anywhere near you? (CV7 9JG)

If he wants a technical apprentiship then he only needs a number of GCSEs (usually 4 including English and maths) and there is no reason he couldn't get 4s and 5s in a special school or pru. I've had students achieve these easily particularly with help and support at home and a good attitude towards school work! Not sure what is so full of despair about that!
All settings I've worked in offer bespoke timetables, support where needed and a refreshing new approach and fresh start which is why I love my job!

It fills me with despair on reading the last few posts, which are basically hopeless for this young man.

I know the system, and I know that my school is not the only one that offers hope. We are mainstream, and expect good GCSEs from all of our students. Some are on a reduced timetable, but most do the same as students in other schools, and exceed expectations.

I am in London, OP, so not helpful to you.

I wanted to offer you hope that there is a school out there for your son. Just know that EHCP funding can be used in independent schools, and sharpen up your elbows if anyone tells you otherwise. It does not sound like a PRU is in your DS’s best interest.

I've worked in almost all kinds of SEMH provisions (PRUs, special school, smaller hubs) and I've taught gcse in all of them. Are you sure these schools don't offer more?
Also, this might be hard to hear, but alongside all of those issues, grades do eventually start to slide. We have students come who are extremely angry as original schools keep high target grades but with emotional and behavioural disruption the likelihood of these being attained is not great! Not saying it's not possible but usually the reason that SEMH schools focus on a small number of GCSEs is so that the student can do as best as possible in those without over loading their mental health.
I hope that doesn't come across as too negative. I hope you find something suitable soon. You sound like you have an open mind which is a brilliant start!

I'm sorry if it's blunt, but no mainstream Independent school is going to agree to meet needs of the severity required to qualify for an EHCP for SEMH.

OP, the final stage of your EHCP is naming a placement. You need to work with the Caseworker who is producing the draft to find out what your options are. Then you can have a look at them and state a preference. Phone them during the holidays- it's a good time because they are less busy due to having fewer dealings with schools.

Once you have stated your preference it will go to a panel and they will name a placement for him. Be prepared for it to be tricky as good placements for able students with SEMH are like hens teeth. But they do have a duty to offer him an educational package.

would you mind saying where you are based OP? then we could give you some suggestions that might be feasible for you x

If his behaviour is very poor, most private schools will hoof him out on his ear a lot more quickly than a state school would. And my experience of the pastoral care in independent schools is...not positive.

Is home educating him until GCSEs an option? There is a lot of online support available now, and you could concentrate your financial efforts on getting him some therapy (CAMHS is a horror show at the moment) and addressing the root causes of the poor behaviour - are there undiagnosed SENs, or a background of trauma?

Sorry this is happening, you must have been through a rollercoaster with him to have got to this point