To think innocent until proven guilty even at school?

[PurplePenguins]

There's 2 parts to my post really. Both annoy me but AIBU?

1. My DS3 is 15yo and very quiet and shy. A boy at his school was attacked in the playground (not badly so as to call the police). He accused my DS3 of the assault. I didn't believe him. It's not DS3 nature and the size difference would make it impossible (DS3 being a lot lighter and shorter). Anyway, DS3 was to spend the day in isolation while the school investigated. It took 3 days to watch the CCTV!!!! They discovered that it wasn't DS3 who attacked the boy in fact DS3 was the other side of the school grounds at the time so DS3 has spent 3 days in isolation for no reason. He has not even had an apology from anyone.
2. During his time in isolation, he has missed all breaks including lunch. DS3 wears braces (so no sugary foods or drinks) and is dairy intolerant. He has not been allowed a proper school dinner, but has been offered either a jam or cheese sandwich for which I have been charged £2.60 even though DS3 refused both. The school has a no packed lunch policy, saying they can cater for all dietary requirements. I wasn't told about the lunch arrangements when I was told about isolation. When I complained, the response was, in a nut shell all.students are treated equally and if DS3 doesn't want to eat that is up to him. AIBU to feel annoyed and feel as though they may have been treating him as though he was the one in the wrong?

(Sorry if I'm rambling)

I’d be fuming. I’d also want to know what sanction the other child would be receiving for lying.

Just sent an email to the trust (I think that what they are). It's an academy. Let's see what they say.

Totally disgusting. Complain as loud and extensively as you can. I'd be fucking furious.

"Teachers are busy" "Teachers aren't investigators"

They aren't supposed to be vindictive jailers either, but that's how they've acted here.

I did ask what will happen to the boy who lied and the actual assailant but they can't (or won't) tell me other than "they will be punished. I am betting it will be less than 3 days in isolation, if they are isolated at all, and they will have lunch.

It's not bloody Trinity Academy is it?

I'd would demand a personal written and in person apology to your son, in your presence, from both the senior member of staff responsible for keeping him in isolation for 3 days and the other child who made the false accusation (was it malicious or mistaken identity? If he was the other side of school I suspect it wasn't an innocent mistake). Agree with others about legal advice, certainly write to the chair of governors and the head, or if it's an academy whoever the chief exec is. He has basically had his civil rights violated. Even the police can't keep you that long.

It was right that they isolated your son initially, partly for his own safety and also to investigate what happened but 3 days is ridiculously long. Do you think there's more to this? You seem to be hinting that its something against your family, that your children have been treated differently than others have/would be?

Oh dear it's an academy. They're a law unto themselves.

I think it's outrageous OP but I suspect you'll get nowhere. I hear so many bad stories about academies. At least with LA schools you can contact the LA.

I suspect the assailant will be excluded, the boy who lied, yes probably a detention and not 3 days in isolation.

If there had been no CCTV what would they have done?

Are there any MNers who have advice on how to deal with academies?

No skittlesss

I'd guess the victim didn't want to name the attacker in case of further revenge attacks, so he named someone inoffensive who was unlikely to retaliate.

Oh and on the lighter and shorter thing, my ds had this too. He was very small for his age until very recently. In year 7 he was accused of something - at the time I thought it was ludicrous but there were enough other kids in his year who were willing to lie through their noses.

Anyway DH and I were called into meeting with deputy head. He was very strict and very serious. And then DS who'd been waiting outside was called in. Deputy head didn't know him. Well what a change in demeanour. I think he realised as soon as he saw him and how small he was that the whole story must have been a set-up. He didn't let DS off completely unscathed but his attitude was totally different.

God knows why the other teachers didn't realise, given they did know how small ds was. There was a similar incident a few months later and at that point the HT realised DS was being set up and put the boys involved in detention. Things improved a lot after that and ds has never been in trouble or accused of anything since, he's now in year 10.

I think schools who act like this are actually poor role models for children. One thing I have learnt as a parent is that children appreciate fairness at all times.

The school has a DUTY to investigate an assault. It’s not a case of putting it on the back burner. It has a behaviour policy and a sanctions policy. Check if they were followed regarding the isolation and time scale.

You will not get information about the other child but what you can do is invoke the complaints policy for the school’s unreasonable behaviour. I would also make an appointment to see the Head. The child said your child was involved which is also a lie. They should have investigated immediately and taken witness statements from other pupils. Some pupils would have known your DS was with them at the time. Some child may have witnessed the attack (if it happened that is). I would ask why no statements were taken to prove your DS was nowhere near the incident. CCTV is the lazy schools version of investigation.

Also I cannot understand why you let this go on for 3 days!!! What were you thinking? If your DS said he was nowhere near the incident why did you not intervene sooner?

It’s a mess all round but your DS should receive an apology and I would write to the Chair of Governors too. Just so they know what a shambles the school is if nothing else.

I would want an apology and if one wasn't forthcoming then I'd be writing to the governors. Teachers are not investigators, but if it is unclear which child is responsible then there should be no isolation.

I wouldn’t let this lie either.

Iprefercoffeetotea. They most definitely are. DS2 is the most disorganised kid in the world. He had detentions for forgetting a water bottle etc. After 5 homework detentions they have a Saturday(the next Saturday, so maybe a day notice. One particular weekend, we were away camping with the cubs. They expected me to put a 12yo on a 2 trains and 3 buses to get him to the Saturday detention as I couldn't leave my cubs with no leader.

Academically, I can't fault them. DS2 made better than average progress over his 5 years there and came away with 8 GCSE above C. Something no one thought possible. I fought all through primary school to get DS3 assessed for dyslexia but hit a brick wall. I spoke to the SENCO just before DS3 started and explained my concerns. He said all the right things although I didn't believe him. DS3 started in September and had been assessed and diagnosed before Christmas. It is just this attitude that they can do as they please, depriving children of lunch and punishing them however they like.

I think it is pretty standard for pupils
In isolation to be offered sandwiches etc as they are no allowed to leave as it is a punishment. However this is appalling as your son was innocent and dairy intolerant - I would want to know what school are going to do about it and why your some was accused

Now isn't this interesting. The head teacher would like to meet with me at 4.45 tomorrow regarding my email. I'll keep you updated 😊

Immediate isolation whilst investigations take place is normal in this situation but not for 3 days. In the schools I have been in, the child is escorted to the dining room to get their lunch and then takes it back to the isolation room.

In the following order, I would:

• Complain to the Headteacher, and tell them you want: a) a proper complaints procedure to be followed; b) necessary changes to school policy / teacher guidance put in place to prevent this happening to anyone else in the future. Politely note that you expect this to be resolved, but are prepared to approach the Trustees if necessary.
• If not properly dealt with by the Head, follow up with the same (a) and (b) to the Trustees, again stating politely that you expect this to be resolved, but are prepared to approach Ofsted if necessary.

That should put the s*s up them.

I admit I don't know much about Ofsted, but I suspect that either no proper complaints procedure, or obvious failings in school policy would be a big black mark against the school.

Good luck. I hope your son gets both a written and a public apology. It would have been widely known your DS was in isolation. Let it be widely known that it was completely wrong too!

I'd be furious. I don't know what the best thing is but I'd expect an apology at the very least.

Ther is a ctually a legal protocol to view CCTV - ie the MDS cannot just walk in and ask for a look , there are set guidelinesdeline. Rarely adhered to it has to be said, but it must be viewd in accordance wit hthe Data Protection Act.

That would account for the delay

Would that delay last three days though, HollyBayTree?

Lets have a small voice of reason here shall we.

Firstly the three days is not to just look at cctv. The three days is for a member of SLT to carry out a full investigation - that's reviewing cctv, taking statements from everyone, questioning witnesses etc. That report then goes to the head. It's not a half hour job.

The issue of food is an entirely different one, and I do not see how his needs could not have been accommodated. However he's a big boy and after the first day when he came home and told you - that was when to act.

If you are unhappy with how the school followed its procedures you can complain - to the head initially. Follow the complaints procedure. But if they followed their procedures then you have no grounds for complaint.

But as usual for the uninformed OFSTED ARE NOT INTERESTED! Ofsted inspect schools. Ofsted do not investigate complaints. it is not their remit. They will refer any complaint back to the local authority which will then refer it back to the school.