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Original poster

My son has been permanently excluded

158 replies

Expelled123 · 04/12/2021 09:39

Name changed because details are extremely outing.

If there are any experts on here, or if anyone could offer any adice I'd be extremely grateful.

Very briefly. My son used a nicotine pouch in school (he's year 10), they are a legal but age restricted smoking cessation product, in the same way that vapes are. Having legal age restricted products are punishable by fixed exclusion, usually a couple of days.

However, the kid told him it was a banned product called Snus, which is basically chewing tobacco in a pouch.

He has been kicked out, not because it was snus, but because he believed it was snus. All evidence clearly shows it was nicotene pouches.

W.T.A.F???? He's been kicked out because he thought something was something else? How is this even legal?

The Governors upheld the exclusion, even though I coherently fought against the decision with plenty of well researched information.

He's currently at a PRU, I need him out ASAP, it's a hell hole.

I need the permanent exclusion overturned so I can get him into our local catchment school, not an easy move currently as the school can refuse him, or it will be a managed move with all the problems that brings.

The next step is an independant review panel.

A bit of background, my son's behaviour has been challenging at times, due to ADHD, nothing major though, all low level, but it's fair to say he can be a pain. I truly believe that this is the real reason behind the exclusion. He presented them with an opportunity and they leapt on it. I have made arguments regarding his SEN, to no avail.

Please help!

OP posts:
Original poster
Expelled123 · 04/12/2021 09:58

'Sorry I see it from the schools pov. Your son thought he had a banned product, and was happy to have it knowing the consequences. He is being punished for that. I don’t see the problem.'

He didn't think he had a banned product, he thought it was called Snus, and that it was a nicotine replacement. He had never heard of it before, he was told that that was what it was called.

Don't you think that permanent exclusion, and all the crap that goes with that is proportionate? Good to hear the other side of the argument though, because I can work on that.

OP posts:
Titsywoo · 04/12/2021 09:55

A girl at my school was expelled for having a bag of dried herbs which she was selling as cannabis. So this can happen I'm afraid.

Sirzy · 04/12/2021 09:52

I think you need to put your energy into fighting to get the right school with the right support.

I can fully see why the school took the action they did. He believed that was what he has and was still happy to have it in school.

Original poster
Expelled123 · 04/12/2021 09:52

Hi Didiusfalco, thanks for your response. The problem as far as I can see is that managed moves require a three month trial period. If my son is less than very well behaved, the move can fail and he can be sent back to the PRU. Also, the school I want to send him to can just refuse, as can any school, the manager of the PRU made that clear.

I don't want him back into the school he has been expelled from, if the exclusion was overturned I'd apply for an in-year transfer to our local school.

It might be worth pointing out that the school he was excluded from is a free school.

OP posts:
FenceSplinters · 04/12/2021 09:52

I feel your pain. We are in a similar situation but he has no current access to education. It’s frustrating. He’s year ten too.

Overthebow · 04/12/2021 09:46

Sorry I see it from the schools pov. Your son thought he had a banned product, and was happy to have it knowing the consequences. He is being punished for that. I don’t see the problem.

itsgettingwierd · 04/12/2021 09:44

It difficult because he had something on him he believed to be illegal. Therefore the intention to carry an illegal item was there.

The school therefore have excluded him as the potential to do other illegal things is possible.

As he has adhd and it's clear he can't manage a mainstream school without extra support not usually available I'd be applying for an EHCP asap. He needs a specialist place for pupils who need support for adhd so he can manage his impulsiveness and make the right decisions.

This maybe in a Ms school with extra support or specialist independent school.

PRUs can be really beneficial for pupils who need a tailored approach but I realise that not all of them are great and some are places where pupils who struggle to control their behaviour can be worse.

Didiusfalco · 04/12/2021 09:42

Putting all other things aside, I think managed moves can go well. We have a number of pupils at my school who have come on managed moves and settled really well. I must say I wouldn’t try and force him back in. Some schools aren’t a great fit for some pupils and they can thrive elsewhere.