To take it further with the school because S1 has been banned from extra curricular activities due to his handwriting (start of year 4)

[whatevermaycome]

S1 recently auditioned for the school play and got a part only to be told by his teacher that because his handwriting was so far below standard for his age he was on special measures and so could no longer take part as it was an extra curricular activity. AIBU to question this with the school ? I accept his handwriting isn't brilliant but is it really so far below standard for the start of year 4. Before I take it forward and make an idiot of myself any feedback from teachers/parents with experience would be welcome. Photo of this weeks homework on profile page. Thanks.

Such a shame but I guess that's how the education system is going - all about meeting their targets and everything else comes second.

No. It's not the education system, it's this school's system. And if part of the rehearsal time is on Thurs afternoon in lesson time then it isn't extra-curricular.

I'd take it further too.

Please do not accept this decision. This is dreadful. What on earth do they do for proper punishments for bad behaviour. I would be removing my son from the school. Would make a good headline. Boy punished for untidy writing!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've had a look and..... It's perfectly readable, infact I think it looks a lot like mine! (Disclaimer: I have been told I have doctors handwriting)

Children's handwriting always makes me tear up for some reason. It's beautiful there's nothing wrong with it how dare they take that away from him. I'd go completely up the wall. In fact I'd withdraw them if I could.

My boyfriend's writing is much worse than your DS's

Thats terrible. Really cruel actually

Wow - people are not exaggerating when they say your son's writing is better than many adults. You should definitely take this further. It is a rubbish excuse and a shocking lack of understanding of education and children.

I'd be fuming too - both because they are picking on your ds (and don't seem to have raised handwriting as an issue previously) and because they have stopped him from doing the play. It wasn't clear from your post if they are actually organising remedial handwriting for him on Thursday afternoons or if he is just doing regular school stuff that might include more writing. As already mentioned, are they also stopping other kids who aren't doing well in maths, English and other subjects from taking part in the play too or are they just picking on those with handwriting deemed not up to scratch?

If they are only picking on poor handwriting and are not providing any very beneficial handwriting help in lieu of doing the play (and worksheets etc that could be brought home don't count!) then I would be complaining to the school again - and then ofsted if the school aren't bothered.

And of course the longer the school manage to drag it out the more difficult it's going to be for your ds to get back his part as somebody else will have it - and what's the betting that the school will say it is unfair to take the part away from the other kid, despite having no qualms about taking it away from your kid.

I'm a Y4 teacher, and your ds's handwriting is nothing out-of-the-ordinary - and we set a LOT of store in a neat, fluent hand in our school.

However, that is irrelevant. He could be splattering ink over the page with a pen that's like a spider and forming all his letters incorrectly, and the school would STILL be way out of line in taking this stance. I was all set to believe that there had somehow been a misunderstanding over this when I first read it in the staffroom at lunchtime and to suggest getting the "real" story from the teacher/HT as it was so unreasonable. I'm staggered to see that it is indeed true. What is the MATTER with some schools?

Take it further.

Your poor ds :( I was in special measures for handwriting at 13 so I know how it feels...I wasn't being lazy, I just genuinely could not make it neat. I was in all the school plays too and would have been devastated if anyone had confused the two issues.

Oh dear. The head sounds like a bit of an arsehole and has his priorities completely wrong.

Don't let this go. Letter to the governors and fill in the OFSTED parentview page for the school.

Of all the qualities likely to make a person successful in life in general, pristine handwriting is a long way down the list. The discipline and confidence required to learn a part and learn to perform it and go on stage in front of an audience can't be beaten, whether you're an academic high flyer or otherwise, though. It's a valuable transferable skill.

However, that is irrelevant. He could be splattering ink over the page with a pen that's like a spider and forming all his letters incorrectly, and the school would STILL be way out of line in taking this stance. I was all set to believe that there had somehow been a misunderstanding over this when I first read it in the staffroom at lunchtime and to suggest getting the "real" story from the teacher/HT as it was so unreasonable. I'm staggered to see that it is indeed true. What is the MATTER with some schools?

^ This. Take it further. This is crazy... If it is during school time, are they seriously expecting your son to do handwriting for all those hours that the others will be rehearsing?

Could also post about this in MN Staffroom or in primary ed, then you'll also get a good idea of professional views on this, to back up the ones here if in any doubt.

I haven't looked at what his writing is like, simply because that is irrelevant IMVHO - this is about punishing someone, or maybe excluding someone for not being as strong as his peers in an area that is totally unrelated to what he's being excluded from.
Please challenge this - if not only for your ds, but so the school take a serious look at themselves for the next child.