To think this total dickhead student should be permanently excluded?

[WotFreeWords]

I have a teenager in a school 6th form, in a Tier 3 area.

Student in a different form went for a covid test last Thursday due to very mild symptoms, but didn't inform school. Stayed off school Friday. Went to another students 18th birthday party Saturday night. Went back to school Monday

Test came back positive yesterday. School only found out this morning.

About half of 6th form (everyone who has been in lessons or tutor group with them) now sent home to self isolate, school staff trying frantically to find out who else was at the party so they can be told to isolate as well, but not many are coming forward because obviously they know damn well there should have been no bloody party in the first place!!!

My poor teenager, who has complied with every restriction, worked their arse off to keep up good grades etc etc, now sent home to isolate for the last 2 days before half term. They haven't been to a party since last sodding New Year because they take it seriously.

I'm hopping fucking mad. What sort of selfish little TWAT does that? If I was the head I'd have the student who went to a fucking party while meant to be self isolating permanently excluded by whatever means I could find. I mean how dare they fuck it up for the other kids like this?

(And no, it's not gossip, they all know who it was and what happened. They have been asked to come forward if they were at the party but so far the other kids know of several who are denying it )

[Ponoka7]

My DD has had two people go into work while they were waiting for test results. One even had symptoms. No action was taken. Personally I think warnings should be issued. If we aren't coming down on adults, we can't punish teenagers.

[BanjoStarz]

@VinylDetective

at the thought very few of them are over 60...you do know what the retirement age is?

That’s without accounting for the previously vulnerable who were shielding and now aren’t - there are as many diabetics, transplant recipients, cancer survivors, asthmatics etc who work in schools as work elsewhere, they just don’t get to work from home because we’ve collectively decided that keeping kids in school is essential for the economy.

And I’m not exaggerating the death rate, it’s really rather low on a population level, but the impact of the decisions we make now and the behaviour we have towards each other will last for much longer than the pandemic.

Actions have consequences and at 18 they should be capable of appreciating that and modifying their behaviour accordingly.

[Elsewyre]

@WotFreeWords

I have a teenager in a school 6th form, in a Tier 3 area.

Student in a different form went for a covid test last Thursday due to very mild symptoms, but didn't inform school. Stayed off school Friday. Went to another students 18th birthday party Saturday night. Went back to school Monday

Test came back positive yesterday. School only found out this morning.

About half of 6th form (everyone who has been in lessons or tutor group with them) now sent home to self isolate, school staff trying frantically to find out who else was at the party so they can be told to isolate as well, but not many are coming forward because obviously they know damn well there should have been no bloody party in the first place!!!

My poor teenager, who has complied with every restriction, worked their arse off to keep up good grades etc etc, now sent home to isolate for the last 2 days before half term. They haven't been to a party since last sodding New Year because they take it seriously.

I'm hopping fucking mad. What sort of selfish little TWAT does that? If I was the head I'd have the student who went to a fucking party while meant to be self isolating permanently excluded by whatever means I could find. I mean how dare they fuck it up for the other kids like this?

(And no, it's not gossip, they all know who it was and what happened. They have been asked to come forward if they were at the party but so far the other kids know of several who are denying it )

"What sort of selfish little TWAT does that?" A teenager?

If you're going to start expelling kids for shit like this then we're going to have some very empty schools

[Lupinhere37]

OP, I’ll rage along with you, as similar, in fact worse has happened at my DD’s school. Large outbreak, over 20 sixth formers and counting. School broke up for half term. All sixth form instructed to self isolate as of the Saturday, when we were notified via email. First affected pupil apparently attended a party whilst awaiting a COVID result. Now started spreading to other year groups.
Many of her fellow sixth formers are ignoring the instructions. They’re at parties, visiting friends, off on holiday, travelled to second homes, out on public transport taking city breaks, shopping at local supermarkets with parents, out at the pub etc. They need parents for all of this to be enabled.
Worryingly this is a private school with a fair amount of boarders from all corners of the U.K, so these kids really are no doubt spreading this around the country (especially the Southwest and West Wales, as many have headed there)
The kids are irresponsible but they learn their behaviour from their parents who are unspeakably vile beings because they are raising more entitled, arrogant rule breakers who think they’re above the law. They are nothing better than middle class yobs but they’ll get away with it because they’re educated and outwardly respectable. I am certain the school must have some knowledge of this as many pupils have parents who teach in the school. I doubt the school will take action though.
Honestly; I’m furious, not least because my DD is raging at me for making her stay at home and miss all the fun!

[MoonJelly]

This doesn't come close to meeting the legal criteria for permanent exclusion.

[TiddyTid]

Oh bollocks is it. Try being a resident in a care home who hasn't been outside in over 7 months and only had three visits in the last 2. Try being a resident in a care home who went to hospital for tests last week and told they had cancer and then having to deal with that news solo because they then had to isolate in their one room for 14 days in that care home.

Difficult for teenagers. Sweet Jesus.


Amen

[BluePeterVag]

Most schools have put on Covid Addendums to their Behaviour Policy to bring in exclusion for cases like this. It was utterly selfish behaviour. I am a parent to a teen and I know life is tough for them, but it is for everyone. Teenagers during the great wars were shipped off to war, their stupid mistakes would’ve potentially cost lives too.

[BluePeterVag]

And to add this student is over compulsory school age can be excluded for behavioural reasons as set out in the statutory guidance. This would fit within the behaviour policy under the Covid addendums at our local school.

[PerveenMistry]

@WotFreeWords

Mistakes are mistakes. Fair enough, everyone makes mistakes.

But turning up at first a party then at school, when you knew you had covid symptoms that had concerned you enough to go for a test, before the results came? That's being a deliberate dickhead, not a mistake.

Agree.

People like that are selfish and/or oblivious assholes who should be ostracized for the good of everyone else. This is a life or death situation, not a game.

[PerveenMistry]

@TeenPlusTwenties

They may well be 18, but where are the parents in all this?

Yes. They are greatly at fault, too. Selfish family.

[Inkpaperstars]

It's appalling behaviour, and being a teenager can't be used as a get out of jail free card all the time. He is 18 not 13 anyway.

I don't know if exclusion is the right way forward but I would be considering it seriously if the decision were mine.

[Meuniere]

@MoonJelly

This doesn't come close to meeting the legal criteria for permanent exclusion.

Putting people’s life in danger doesn’t meet the requirement for exclusion?!?

So coughing on someone when you dint have symptoms etc... is an offense. But going to school, mingling with people when you KNOW you might carry the disease is ok then...
I mean. I suppose the virus mus know to stay put and not infect other people until on has received a positive test I suppose

[Meuniere]

@Inkpaperstars

It's appalling behaviour, and being a teenager can't be used as a get out of jail free card all the time. He is 18 not 13 anyway.

I don't know if exclusion is the right way forward but I would be considering it seriously if the decision were mine.

I agree.
You can’t have a situation where a teenager is considered a child so can't be seen as responsible (they make mistake etc etc).
Whilst also saying that they are 17~18yo So parents just can’t told them to stay at home and force them to do so.

I think at that age, they have to be considered as adult. And be held responsible for their actions.
Just like they would if they were driving, getting in fight etc....

[DdraigGoch]

Take heart that some people are getting caught and fined. I saw in the news last night that four Nottingham Trent students were fined £10k EACH for hosting a party. Serve them right.

[Pinkyxx]

I agree this was a selfish wreck-less act and some form of punishment is due.

That said, I would blame the many parents who allowed their children to go to a party knowing the rules. The risk they took was in full knowledge that teenagers do stupid things. Those parents should be compelling their children to own up to who was at the party so that the proper steps can be taken. Some families may have vulnerable people in their households.

You don't magically become wise at 18... OP your son just learnt a hard lesson about how the acts of the few impact the many. He did the right thing and you should commend him for the maturity he's showing.

[jessstan1]

I bet he wish he hadn't told anybody and probably now wants to emigrate (when the pandemic is over).

Stupid, stupid bloke and his parents for letting him be so irresponsible; if he is at school he is still under their care.

However - life goes on, at least for most of us.

[christinarossetti19]

It's very good that there are checks and balances before major decisions like permanent exclusion can be taken by a school.

Yes, this person does need to be help responsible for their actions including the responsible decision of informing the school that his test was positive.

It's the government that has and is making a complete hash of dealing with situation. Blaming people on an individual level lets the government off the hook, but if you want to play Johnson's, Handcock and Cumming's game, go for it.

[MrsClatterbuck]

Someone did similar to this in Ireland. One person set up a chain which resulted in 56 people getting infected.

[Meuniere]

@WotFreeWords Well I’ve just learnt that someone did the same thing at my dc school. Also 6th form.
Pupil coming in even though they are coughing and have symptoms. Get tested at the start of the week, which is also the start of the hols and tested positive.

Cue for quite a few students being told to self isolate right at the start of their 2 week hols.... I imagine this is also the case for the teachers too.

And no repercussions either....

[christinarossetti19]

How responsible of them to tell the school about the positive test Meuniere.

Why should there be any repercussions for that?