To Think that 26 detentions in the space of 6 weeks at school [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[Mortifiedmummy12]

I find it awful however DCs dad doesn’t think so (we are separated). Made this to prove how bad it actually is. Anyone else’s children (secondary school age ) managed to get this or is it ABNORMAL ( it definitely is) but apparently it’s normal. How many detentions have your kids have in the space of 6 weeks. Only been in 6 weeks as Dc was ill for the first week and a bit. Please help me prove to my ex that our DC is out of order.

Detention every day, more or less. Which means there's a big problem with both your DC's behaviour and the school's discipline policy.

What are they for?

We've had a homework crackdown and I've got kids that have had three or four from me already - so across all subjects the could be pushing a similar number.

HOY will have been in touch with home if that's the case though.

Year 9 (age 13) and they’re for behaviour mostly- the odd few are for homework , equipment (odd few as in 2 or 3). I think it’s disgraceful but I need my Dcs father to back me up which he hasn’t so far.

And yes, we have pointed out to SLT that this isn't working, we're hoping they listen soon.

My dd managed to accrue enough behaviour points to warrant a full day of seclusion in her first few weeks at secondary school, I called them as I was concerned, she was a model pupil in primary school. They explained that they expect new pupils to get a lot of detentions at first, something to do with the sudden level of freedom and the expectation of self reliance that they are not used to. This does seem a lot though

What kind of behaviour? Have you had contact from the school before now? I have spent the afternoon on my PPA ringing parents of students I have had behavioural issues with this term, but none to the degree of 20 odd detentions.

If his behaviour is that bad, he's acting up in class, and in year 9 needs to buckle down. He can't be the class clown forever

My son is year 9 so not new to the system. I’m assuming hoy is head of year ( it’s year team leader at my sons school)

Ring the school and ask to see the pastoral manager or head of year.

So 15-20 detentions so far for behaviour?

How bad does behaviour have to be to get a detention? Our policy you have to get 4 counts of low level behaviour (shouting out, talking when inappropriate, not working, out of seat, etc) in a lesson to get a detention. Or one really serious thing like dangerous behaviour or being outright rude to a member of staff.

I think it’s warning then a reminder then a detention if I remember correctly.

Warnings and reminders are logged on the board space but not onto the system I have been told

Could you and your DC's father go and see the HOY? Get the HOY to explain to his father just how serious this is, and how, potentially, it could lead to exclusion?

At our year excellence evenings, the presenters had some graphs that showed the link between how many detentions a person got, and what their GCSE grades were likely to be.

Have they put anything else in place? Is he on report, for example?

I'd call and ask for a meeting with the Year Team Leader I think, I'd at least expect a phone call.

DD is year 9 and has never had a detention.

So no I don’t think your DC’s amount is normal.

Definitely not normal/acceptable. DS is also 13 and in year 9. Since the start of year 7 he’s had 1 after school detention and 1 lunchtime. He had consequences at home for the after school detention and I’m confident he won’t repeat that behaviour.

Could you arrange a meeting with the HoY and your son’s dad? His behaviour obviously needs to change, and the school might be able to get across to his dad the seriousness. He can’t be far away from a suspension!!

So 4 a week.
If each detention is pre ended by 2-3 warnings that's 78 instances of poor behaviour in 6 weeks.

That really should involve meeting parents and talking about issues and strategies

DS is year 7, school is well known for its discipline and for detentions for poor organisation like forgetting sports kit. A few of his friends have had 2 or 3.

I'm a secondary teacher, I have given 1 detention this year since September. Your ex should be very concerned, 26 in the space of 6 is a crazy amount.

Yes, he’s on report and we’ve had a meeting when DS was in year 8 to which the father came but wasn’t supportive in the slightest. It was actually rather embarrassing and so I am hesitant to request a meeting and bring him along this year if school want one. They have rang though

This is the exact same thread that was running a few weeks ago.
It ran and ran with lots of people saying the child in question needed assessment for various special needs.

Do we really have a detention troll?

I’m confused as to whether it’s six weeks or 26 weeks.
Anyway it suggests there is a problem with persistent bad behaviour and that detentions are not working so further sanctions are required such as fixed term exclusions (one to five days).
My dd racked up over 40 days in exclusions and was then permanently excluded. The school usually threw them out after 15 days of exclusions so I can’t say they were unfair.

I think you need to meet with someone from the school asap, as something is clearly going wrong.
Fwiw, my DD had no detentions ever in the whole of her seven year high school career.

Oh sorry, I see it is six weeks. So almost every day? That’s crazy.

It's not normal, but I would, as a teacher, be really concerned for this child. As a parent 'embarassment' is the wrong reaction. Your dc is 'acting out' for a reason. There is way more to this than simple bad behaviour. Something is really wrong and you and the school need to work together to find out what is going on. Dc seems to be screaming out for someone to recognise there is a major problem or trauma.

He’s averaging one detention per day... Seems the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree if his Dad is reassuring him that that’s normal.
It’s not in spitting distance of normal. Does he have some sort of additional needs?