Strangest phone call from school

[Dorisswept]

It is the last weekend of half term here and I have just received a phone call from the headmaster of ds(17) school that 2 members of staff have been suspended pending investigation, after members of the public reported comments they allegedly made concerning ds
.no more detail than that.I don't know what to think.do I tell Dc? The last thing he needs is this with his a level exams coming up. I cannot begin to imagine what kind of comment ,who made it, who reported it, and how given it is half term?

Could it be something on Facebook? Sounds like a social media thing to me ?

Blimey. Did he say which members of staff? (Male? Female?)

Oh yes lilac is probably correct.

Name changed for obvious reasons

What did you say to them? Did you ask them what the comments were etc? Surely you have a right to know - why would they phone you with such limited information and expect you to just accept it? Are you going in to school next week for a meeting about it?

You'd think they'd be able to give you some idea of what has happened wouldn't you? Perhaps not the exact comment but you need to know the nature of it.

Sounds bizarre.

You need to go into school to see the head teacher and personally I wouldn't mention anything to your son until you have more facts.

I would be careful too as this could be identifying by the press.

What did you ask the head? Surely you didn't say-'ok, thanks for telling me-bye'.

Nope.no further details.I think I would rather not have known perhaps. Do I mention to D's? I think not but then again if other students know and he doesn't....

He is said he could not give further details.I did try!

You didn't ask for any details because you'd rather not know?!

OK then, each to their own I suppose.

Oh ok. That's different then. Why couldn't he give further details? What is the point in telling you such limited, pointless information? Something very amiss here. Are you going in to school about it on Monday morning?

No I did ask for further details, but he said he could not say more at this stage

I guess they can't give details because it's being investigated but wanted to give you a heads up so that you couldn't complain that you had to hear about it from someone else.

Did you ask him if it's common knowledge around the school ie do other teachers and pupils know what has happened? I would be arranging a meeting ASAP. I would most definitely sit my DS down and say something has happened at school that is being investigated. You're not in trouble and it's not you who is being investigated but you may hear some things about it at school.

I would then be marching in to school expecting some answers as to who has said what about my DS. Sorry this would bug the life out of me and I wouldn't be able to relax until I knew the details.

He wouldn't give you any details at all? Did he give you any idea of when he would give further details? My imagination would be going into overdrive wondering what the details were. Agree with suggestions to go into school and see the headteacher.

I don't think I'd mention anything to your DS until you know more though.

I'd be there Monday morning. Obviously for the members of staff to have been suspended this is serious. Therefore they have to take your concern seriously. They may not be able to go into masses of detail but none the less, they need to furnish you with more information. (Were the comments racial/sexual in nature, were they derogatory, were they broadcast publicly, that kind of thing. Who is investigating? How did the headteacher find out? Are all questions I'd be asking)

What a horrible thing.

Wouldn't mention to DS - sounds like socal media maybe.

Yes I would be there Monday morning too. You are the parent and you need more info.

I think I would tell your DS, likely it will blow up to a big thing if the members of staff have been suspended so there's no way you can keep him in the dark anyway.

I too think social media - could they have been speculating on sexuality? That would be my first guess if this was my child.

Don't say anything to your DS.

Insist on a meeting with the Head first thing on Monday.

I work in a school, years ago a disgruntled ex-employee reported to the police that another member of staff had hit and verbally abused a child and gave the names of 2 children that had witnessed the assault.

One of the children named had left the school and so wasn't even on roll at the time of the alleged incident. The police investigation later found the accusations to be completly malicious.

I'm wondering if it's something similar?

I doubt they would be racial as we are white British. They just said members of the public reported it.I don't know if its social media. I hope no it at that would probably mean a wider audience,but I think it sounds most likely.

I understand why people are saying don't tell DS but the problem will be if other students know about it (which they might if the comments have been reported by parents at the school). I think it would be better for DS to be told something by you rather than have a mob of teens descend on him on Monday morning and he doesn't know what they're on about - and better than a load of whispering, pointing and sniggering that he doesn't understand.

You can't just let this drop, you just can't. You need to find out exactly what has gone on. Don't tell DS and don't tell us unless you want to but you need to know whats happened here. It may end up in court FFS.