To ask what is the purpose of the Home School Agreement

[storytellinganimal]

And do I have to sign the bloody thing? What will happen if I don't?

[CouthyMow]

Still wont be signing it though. It doesn't stop me from ensuring my DC's are at school and have done my homework, however it means that when I needed to contact the school to express my displeasure that my 15yo in Y11 was put into isolation because she was wearing her trainers due to a VERY severe blister caused by her new school shoes, I was able to point out that not all rules can be followed blindly.

There was a note in her planner to the effect that she was in trainers to allow her blisters to heal, yet the school seemingly were putting their school uniform code above a pupil's health, as the previous day, my DD's socks had had to be thrown away as the blisters had bled so much.

God I hate this Academy. And I have another 4 2/3 years MINIMUM to deal with their brand new rules that weren't there when my DD started in 2009, and weren't even there when I applied for DS1 just one year ago. There's strict and then there is stupidly enforcing arbitrary rules with your eyes closed despite the consequences...

I care about my DC's education, not what footwear they wear - unless it makes them bleed, in which case I will send them in something else.

[englishteacher78]

Wow! We have strict uniform policy but for an injury situation accompanied by note in planner resolves the situation.
If I spot an 'infringement' in one of my form and they have a decent reason I write that we've discussed it in their planners and they get no further problem - that's one of the points of planners surely!
Our students have to agree (and their parents) to a reasonable use policy to be able to use the school IT network - the teachers do too.

[BlackholesAndRevelations]

The main aim IMO is to determine which children we need to chase for homework. If their parents haven't signed the form saying they support and want their child to do homework, then we chase it up. If not then we don't bother and breathe a sigh of relief as homework can be the bane of a primary teacher's life

[BlackholesAndRevelations]

Sorry that should have been HAVE signed the firm we chase it up!

[wonkylegs]

I'm not sure that ofsted are that bothered that they are essential in all cases.
DSs old 'outstanding' school never had them, his new (we moved) 'good' school has them. I am pretty sure this is because they have issues with attendance and behaviour (highlighted by ofsted but mainly due to the location of the school) which they are trying to tackle.
I amended DSs section prior to signing because it was getting a 5yo to sign to agree to do stuff completely out of his control and he took signing it very literally.
I had no problems signing my bit because it only agreed to do stuff that I would do anyway - take DS to school, support his learning etc. It was a bit patronising but I do understand that this particular school has problems with getting parents to engage and this was an attempt to do something about it.

[3birthdaybunnies]

I signed my bit when they started school but refused to get the dc to sign theirs. They were 4 ffs, they couldn't even write their name, they were in no way competent to sign an agreement. Have never been challenged on it.

[nennypops]

CouthyMow, it could be worth reporting that consortium of academies to the DfE. They're bound by the law on exclusions that applies to all mainstream schools, and their funding agreements also say that they will follow the usual School Admissions Code of Practice. Therefore to say that "If you do not sign this Home-School agreement then your child will no longer have a place at this school, or any within the XXXX Consortium" has to be seriously illegal.