School putting child in isolation because parents haven't paid lunch fees

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

Apologies for the DM link, and in case there's another thread on this (couldn't find one, but it's such a mumsnetty topic I can't believe no-one else has started one).

A school has threatened to put a child in isolation for their entire lunchbreak every day until the parents pay the £75 due for the term's school lunches (which are 1 week overdue).

Daily Mail article:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3713583/Superhead-claimed-Britain-s-education-broken-puts-pupils-detention-lunch-restricts-food-parents-failed-pay-school-meals.html

Link to a picture of the letter from the school:

twitter.com/RichardA/status/758941460741758982

WTF are the school playing at? In what possible circumstances is this OK?

Although the deputy head sounds like a completely self-absorbed bellend, I have to say if people want their children to go to a school like this and are happy with how they treat the children, there's not much to object to.

What would worry me is if a child was placed there because there were no other places available and it was neither what the parents wanted nor what was best for the child.

But interestingly although he sounds like a wally, the kids are actually speaking really good French and are able to put together great sentences etc even from year 7.

I expect they will do incredibly well at GCSE.

I had a good look through his Twitter account and the school's online videos - they are really speaking and understanding well.

Perhaps they should have got a year 7 to compose the letter to parents then; they couldn't have done a worse job.

I'm pretty speechless!

It sounds like a good lunch system, except for the sanctions and being compulsory. I reckon most kids spent more than 12.50 in our school canteen and buy mainly cookies!

Family lunch sounds fine (but should be free if its compulsory - school dinners are compulsory where I live but free for all) but having set discussions? That's really weird and controlling.

Yes, the set discussions sound very cultish.

I think the family lunch sounds good. I like that it's compulsory. I think they should sort out the FSM issue though, especially as so many of their kids are FSM. That £2.50 a day gets them 2 snacks as well as a 2 course lunch. Seems a good deal.

The discussion gives them a focus to talk about at least - gives them ideas about conversation at the table. I also like the "appreciations" they give (saw YouTube video of it all).

There are people on here who've already said some aspects of their practice sound good, antique.

I think, as a parent, I would struggle with the fact that they may be able to make the children compliant with their methods but they clearly can't handle an irate parent.

Having a subject for discussion over lunch, is what some private schools certainly used to do. They say clearly they are modelling themselves on a traditional private school.

I'm thinking it's reasonably straightforward to have year 7 and year 8 behaving immaculately. I'm wondering how things will pan out as they get into year 9, 10 and 11. Part of it does seem to be endlessly telling them how marvellous and hardworking they are, so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

If a parent is contacted 5 times about their lunch payment arrears and refuses to respond, I'm not sure what the school is supposed to do. This parent knew what the school's policies were before signing up her child. This is a storm in a teacup.

It's easy for middle class parents to criticise policies like discussing set subjects over lunch; but their children have huge advantages, because of their home environment, over many poor children. This school is trying to make up for that gap, rather than just shrugging its shoulders and saying its the parents' fault. It has a black headteacher, who has previously taught poor and disadvantaged children in secondary schools, and has seen how the methods used there failed them.

Indeed, she wrote a book about it. If you're interested, there are excerpts from that book here:

pragmaticreform.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/to-miss-with-love-autumn-term/

There are loads of schools like this in the US - the KIPP schools (Knowledge is Power Program) are the inspiration here (as evidenced by the school motto). They have a good record of getting kids from deprived backgrounds into college.

I worked with this woman - so called super head- and have no respect for her. Sadly she probably believes 100% that her actions are justified. Mad. You CANNOT use isolation as a way of procuring money from parents; it breaks down the already fragile relationship between school and some parents even more. Unfortunately I think that Ms BS is probably thrilled with all the free publicity for her school...

An interesting piece on schools like this in the US:

edushyster.com/an-open-letter-to-teachers-and-staff-at-no-excuses-charter-schools/

But interestingly although he sounds like a wally, the kids are actually speaking really good French and are able to put together great sentences etc even from year 7.

I'd take that with a pinch of salt, to be honest. I suspect the children in the videos have been cherry-picked and coached.

As for what they do if parents don't pay - the obvious thing to do is to let the children bring packed lunches. It works out much cheaper than £2.50 a day. There is no justification for humiliating children for something their parents have done or failed to do.

I don't agree with punishing kids because their parents are poor.
But I do agree with a lot of the ideas in this school.

they must have a big dining hall or is it a small school?... packed lunches are 'banned' from the dining hall at my kids school - supposedly for healthy eating reasons - lack of space in the teeny dining hall more like (school has 1000s of pupils) - they'd need to start lunch at 11.00 and go on till 3.00 to feed them all.

It is a small school.

Kesstrel im not even close to being middle class and still wouldnt appreciate my children being treated in this way.

its not far short of a cult, i wouldnt be at all surprised if similarities between how the pupils feel and stockholm type syndrome effect are in play. i once was asked to fill in a Great Place to Work survey, and was so convinced that my sexist employer was actually doing me a favour by being so horrendous, plus that theyd somehow find out how i scored them that i said it was on a par with Google as a place to work, when it was a sexist, abusive, controlling horror of a business.

im so glad they dont appear to favour any sort of religion, religion being pushed in an institution like this would be very dangerous indeed

Yeah the secular aspect is a saving grace there - combining religion with its already cultish aspects would make it even weirder and sadder.

I think a shared lunch is a good way of developing social skills. I visited an EBD special school which had a similar lunch, but the school paid for the non fsm children to have lunch. A worked at a different special school where they also had lunch in form groups, but children were allowed to bring sandwiches if they or their parents preferred.

I feel it's a level of control that is too far to say children must eat the school food. A secular school should respect different religions. Banning children from praying on site is very controlling.

I also like how no child is left sitting alone eating their lunch.

Sadly, DS's school seems to be going down the same path... new Head teacher who is a self-styled guru and 'personality'.

'Family lunches' are now compulsory and £15 a week. Ironically in the letter which heralded this fabulous new venture the reasons for scrapping the option of packed lunches (including packed lunches due to severe allergies) was .... 'inclusivity'!!!

DS has one more year of government funded lunches (yr2), then the compulsory 'inclusive' £15+ a week will start.

No idea how I'll afford it. I guess I'll have to choose between cancelling my rehab physio (to try and stop my deteriorating condition), or my sons play therapy (grief counselling and living with a disabled mum) as both cost £15 to get there. But hey, so happy to know we'll have to stop going to these things in order to priorities schools 'inclusive' lunches.

This years financial sucker punch is the complete change in school uniform which has cost me £70+ just for the logo-ed stuff. Smart clothes, smart minds apparently. Obviously no consultation with parents or any warning period. But hey, it's important for learning apparently. Fuck knows where that money will come from. I already have no winter clothes / shoes budget for myself, and food is already cut to the bone to pay for carers etc.

Went to a emergency governors / parents meeting to discuss this, and I was told 'children with FSM/ pupil premium will be helped with costs' and the others who don't qualify for those but are struggling and close to the poverty line? Oh, apparently the school is aware of all families like this and they are helped through informal means. And this is done discretely in order to preserve people's dignity.

Riiiggght.

Clearly that system isn't working, as no ones given a shit how desperate me and DS are. Fuckers.

(Yes, I am fucking bitter and panicking).