Is it acceptable for a teacher to punish a child by making them stand facing the wall?

[twokidstwowheels]

Some context: I'm in France. Schools here are about 30 years behind the UK, however, there are rules (that many teachers just ignore) about what they are/are not allowed to do. Because I'm not in the UK I would really like some perspective on what is and isn't acceptable. French parents went through a harsh system themselves and because of that seem very blasé about any form of discipline that isn't obviously violent!

Anyway, my son is in a mixed class with ages from 5-8, 13 in total. School started two weeks ago and my son told me that in that time he and two others have had to stand facing the wall as a punishment. My son is confused about why but his friend told his mum that it was because DS kept answering questions without putting his hand up, which I can imagine being the case: he struggles not to blurt out his thoughts at the best of times. Another 7-year-old has had to stand there twice, my DS says for fidgeting and "being naughty" along with one of the girls in the class. Is this acceptable in UK schools? AIBU to want to take this up with the head and the mayor (mayors are the ultimate heads of the school here)?

Work with the teacher to stop your son shouting out in class

I was told my a primary school teacher acquaintance this week that the entire primary school are off to the theatre next week. Before that he would be spending part of the day trying to teach his class of nine year olds how to behave in a theatre - putting seats out in rows and explaining that they couldn't shout at the actors or get out of their chairs and move about every five minutes. These are NT children in a mixed, but not very poor catchment, several of whom are close to unmanageable and due to lack of parental support for any disciplinary measures at all, learn nothing.

This is a general point about discipline in schools and not directed at the OP because, as I said below, it makes sense to take account of individual needs before imposing disciplinary measures.
My heart goes out to you. Navigating education practices in another country must be challenging especially with school refusal which is scary.

Feel free to be offended. I'll rephrase it to "local" French schools. This is something known to parents around here so my claim is based on evidence from talking to other parents: mostly French but also some Spanish, etc., as the community is pretty mixed in this area. Weirdly it's the other English parents who tend not to engage but I think part of that is because they're not speaking to the French parents and also can't imagine how bad it could be! It's easier to think that what happened to my son (and one other boy, and the countless others parents have told me about) is due to an anomaly and blame individual children. If you came out of your schooling here with good memories of your time in education, then you were lucky! Here it is undoubtedly 30 years behind and in villages it is utterly hit and miss. A mediocre teacher who doesn't traumatise any children is considered a win.

....and yet, this is the school system you have chosen to educate your child. Things will probably go better if you work with them and try and hide your very obvious disdain.
Or homeschool.
Or look for an internstional school.
Or repatriate.

Iknow this is going to be controversial but behaviour is getting worse in schools and the majority of children are losing out on their education. Part of the problem in the UK is that now teachers are having fewer and fewer sanctions they can use when children behave badly. The bad behaviour means that the rest of the class are unable to have the lesson they should have. And part of the reason that the teachers have fewer sanctions is because parents are more likely to complain instead of telling their DC that if he/she behaves better this won't happen. Parents need to be on the side of teachers more, and less prone to complain when DC has been taught that their behaviour has been unacceptable.

Having been through the french schooling system where you are 1 of 30 children in a class, meant to learn at the same pace, learn by rote, not to have any original thoughts and not to make any noise, I agree French schools suck and are quite behind the times.
I love my DC's mid-size SE England primary school where they are allowed to be individuals, encouraged to progress in the areas they excel, supported to catch-up in they areas they are behind.
And I don't think it's that much better in France at present. My nephews are same ages as my DCs but they are in french schools and they are learning to read, write and basic maths starting later but in a much, much tighter time frame.. They feel stressed out and pressured to get it all straight away.
Discipline is still a big part of french education because from 3/4 years there is 1 teacher per class (often 30 students) and it's hard to manage, so they come down hard on any "disturbance". There is also a massive government-set curriculum to get through each year and there no room for any slowing down. My step-sister quit teaching 3 years ago because of all this.
What happened to your child would not happen in my children's UK school and it would result in a complaint.
I think you should take it further, but I am not sure you will have any success as some things are "normal" and widely accepted in France.

Have you had a discussion with the teacher? She needs to explain to your son why he is being punished, and you need to tell her about your son’s sensitivity. It isn’t so long ago that facing the wall and worse, was commonplace in English schools, but as the saying goes, when in Rome…