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)

"Personally I don’t think it’s unreasonable to give a child a choice of 3 sandwiches as part of a punishment."

I know I've said it a few times-but hot meal withheld(or for Op's son, essentially all food withheld)-does that even happen to prisoners who have actually been convicted of a crime??

OP, do you think some of this was painting one son in a bad light because the other has been in trouble? I have seen this happen before.

"Personally I don’t think it’s unreasonable to give a child a choice of 3 sandwiches as part of a punishment."

He shouldn't have been on "punishment". He was lied about and nobody took his word. The whole thing has been handled in an unprofessional and quite nasty manner.

Meant to say, the liar ought to apologise to your poor son. I am shocked that the school has not made this happen already.

What Francis said. You definitely need to get all this on record.

if the student had been celiac (aka they cannot have gluten so they would be very ill from having bread is 3 choices of sandwhichs fine?).

At this point he has had a punishment for no crime committed and he got a begrudged apologize and the OP had to fight for a refund for 3 dinners he could not have, the head teacher even said it was a punishment but what action did the OP son commit to cause a punishment?

Its shocking that the head teacher not only said it was not a punishment but in the same sentience said it was one....

You won't get far with an academy - especially a secondary school. They (generally) have zero interest in fairness as such concerns interfere with their set procedures. It's similar to a fast food chain sticking to a corporate recipe; in fact their whole approach to education is frighteningly rigid. The current Ofsted framework doesn't demand the same accountability for exclusions, isolations and behaviour policies from academies as for LA schools which is a huge factor in their perceived superiority. Proposed changes to this are terrifying some academy heads as we speak - they are, ironically, looking to maintained schools for advice.
Good to see MNers still thinking Ofsted will deal with parental complaints- surely folk have got the message by now!
You will get an opportunity to feedback about school during an actual inspection though.
In my school I separate (not punish) all those involved while investigating and it can take a few days until ones quacking birds are lined up. Any mistaken accusations should result in profuse apologies and I don't hesitate to do so if a child is incorrectly inconvenienced for a minute, let alone three days. That is what decent people and societies do - schools should not replicate what unjust societies do, it really doesn't teach any useful lessons.

OP, do you think some of this was painting one son in a bad light because the other has been in trouble? I have seen this happen before.

DS3 got a lot of homework detentions. He is dyslexic and doesn't always write down what he has to do so when he gets home, he can't do it. He is too embarrassed to admit he didn't wrote it so won't ask a teacher. Apart from this, he is never in trouble. He's been there a couple of years now so they should know him better (I would hope) but this has crossed my mind.

I like the poster who said write to HT and say you will be following up once you have received legal advice and will be writing to Ofsted.
That is appalling treatment meted out to your son.