Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Strangest phone call from school

158 replies

Dorisswept · 25/02/2017 09:24

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?

OP posts:
GeorgeTheHamster · 25/02/2017 13:42

Yes I was surprised. It's not a dorm, it's a room for two.

JustEatYourDinner · 25/02/2017 13:44

Thing is, it was fb, apart from teachers going awol, it may not be public knowledge. So ds wouldn't be finding out from peers? So I would take the lead from the head as to what to tell ds. Why tell him andupset him unnecessarily?

Westfacing · 25/02/2017 13:49

I think this will turn out to be a very minor incident so try not to worry too much.

I'm not in the teaching profession ... would two teachers be suspended for a 'very minor incident'?

cricketballs · 25/02/2017 13:51

I'm not in the teaching profession ... would two teachers be suspended for a 'very minor incident'?

If there is even a whiff of anything to do with safeguarding then the school will have to suspend whilst investigations are ongoing.

OurBlanche · 25/02/2017 13:53

would two teachers be suspended for a 'very minor incident'? Yes. They would be suspended pending further investigation.

That ensures they don't have contact with the student involved. This in turn, prevents them from being accused of or actually trying to persuade any student or colleague to change their story.

Which is one example of how Safeguarding works both ways!

Tiredbutfuckingfine · 25/02/2017 13:57

Yup you have to suspend at the merest hint. Even if it's likely to be malicious.
No guilt should ever be inferred from a suspension.

DesolateWaist · 25/02/2017 13:58

My guess is, it was on FB or similar. The teachers are friends on FB. They were slagging off your son in some way, whether his appearance, what he's like in class... some of their FB friends, i.e. members of the public thought this is very unprofessional, and contacted the head. The teachers may have thought they were OK because on their own closed FB site.

I agree. My guess is a conversation was something like
'Did you take the 6th form football team to their game on Wednesday?'
'yes, they are a pain in the bum, always dicking about, especially x,y, and z.'
Oh, yes, x is aways being an arse in my class'

Hopefully it is simply something like that.

I agree though that you need to tell DS. You can bet it is a parent who has reported the conversation (also may have happened in the pub), said parent may well have told their children , or other parents who have told their children. DS will have other children rushing to tell him the gossip on Monday morning.

OurBlanche · 25/02/2017 14:02

No guilt should ever be inferred from a suspension. Ooops! Can't believe I haven't thought say that! Blush

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 25/02/2017 14:03

They could be if the minor incident was a member of the public misunderstanding something or taking a comment out of context.

Where there is a suspicion of gross misconduct you always suspend without prejudice while you investigate and until the matter is either found to be without foundation or a disciplinary process has been completed.

I did say I didn't want to speculate, but in the interests of a more balanced discussion (and to peel poor op off the ceiling if she's been worrying) it could be something as innocent as the following totally made up situation:

Member of public is sitting on the table next to a table with a man and woman in the pub. During the course of the evening MOP overhears the name of the school and realises they both work there. The man starts telling the woman about how he is going to Telford the first week back and he's really looking forward to it because Tim Jones is coming and he's really fit at the moment. Woman agrees Tim is super fit and the man is so lucky, she is really jealous! What MOP doesn't realise is that they are both PE teachers and the man coaches the swimming team of which Tim Jones is their big hope this year. The PE teacher is talking about a big swimming competition but the MOP doesn't know this and jumps to conclusions and reports to school who have to investigate because on the face of it that looks really dodgy.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 25/02/2017 14:04

Can I just say that a 17yo is a minor, just, but surely not a child. He could legally be married. He could have a driving licence. In a few months he is likely to be at university and living independently. He may already be in employment. He is already beyond the point where health care professionals are obliged to get permission from his parents for treatment and to keep them informed. I know 17yo boys can still be amazingly immature but given how near to adulthood he is I feel he has to be treated like an adult here and told what is going on. If I were the OP, I'd strongly advise him against rushing onto social media to tell all his friends, but I agree with all those who think the cat is probably already out of the bag on that one.

BoneyBackJefferson · 25/02/2017 14:05

MrsGuyOfGisbo
you're being ridiculously naive to suggest that this is about safeguarding. Safeguarding does not extend to protecting teachers in circumstances where they have been suspended
precisely - people holler the 'safeguarding' mantra to save them any effort in responding correctly.

If you don't like the safeguarding aspect (which is still there) try data protection, employment law, or even law about spreading malicious gossip.

If the information becomes public knowledge through the school they will be liable under law. If it is found out through other means it could still cause problems for those that are spreading it.

The school has as much duty to protect its staff as the pupils.

Mrsemcgregor · 25/02/2017 14:16

If it is still social media related there is a strong possibility your DS already knows, why don't you ask him?

MrsGuyOfGisbo · 25/02/2017 14:30

OP, one possibility is you could mention to your DS that you have heard some teachers have been suspended as gauge his reaction. Could be he knows all about it and is protecting you?

GinAndSonic · 25/02/2017 14:31

I know of a woman who was suspended from her job as a ta for basically saying she would happily shag a particular sixth former.

SallyGinnamon · 25/02/2017 15:01

Gin. I'm glad to hear she was. The mind boggles

Ni58 · 25/02/2017 15:38

There's a possibility that you weren't the only parent receiving a call from the head this morning - maybe something to consider when deciding whether or not to speak to your ds.
The head won't be able to tell you much at this point of the investigation in order to protect all involved - the teachers, the informant, your child and the other children in the school.
It really could be anything though! The fact that it has been disclosed over a half term makes me wonder. Although at the same time, it could be something historical and somebody has only decided to speak up now.
A horrible situation for you to be put in. Flowers

BalloonSlayer · 25/02/2017 16:01

I would ask your DS.

"Head rang me about some comments that have been made? Or something? Do you know anything about it?"

He could be worrying about it and wondering whether to mention it.

ComputerUserNumptyTwit · 25/02/2017 16:34

Absolutely what Balloon said.

HeeHighls · 25/02/2017 16:45

Please tell your son of the phone call and what was said. If you don't he may never trust you again and imagine him going in and his friend's know but he doesn't.
It's his school life and he's entitled to know.

I hope for you both that it's a storm in a teacup, but please tell him.

bonfireheart · 25/02/2017 19:51

As long as your son isn't in danger (and it sounds like he isn't) then there's no reason why you shouldn't send him to school on Monday and carry on as normal.
I remember when we were 14 and a teacher made an extremely racist comment. We reported her to head. Everything carried on as normal while they investigated. Even our parents weren't told. The teacher apologised to us and then left soon after. None of the other students knew any of this but this was before the Internet and smartphones!

Bananamanfan · 25/02/2017 19:58

I would talk to your ds. It may be something he's worried about & would be relieved to talk to you.

HeeHighls · 25/02/2017 20:52

Please get this thread taken down, as although it was a vent for you, it would be a huge embarrassment for your son.

OurBlanche · 25/02/2017 20:55

Huh??

I rarely get that! There are many people in the UK, not all of them on MN. There is nothing identifiable and, if there were, OP has nothing to reveal!

What is there that could embarrass her DS? He has done nothing, afawk.

NotaSnowflake · 25/02/2017 21:00

I would tactfully ask your Son how things are going at school? Or if anything has happened? See if he already knows?

Jaynebxl · 25/02/2017 21:02

I would definitely try go ogling rue school name and your dcs name.

Swipe left for the next trending thread