AIBU to insist my son has the suspension lifted?

[NightmareATschool]

First time in trouble for any kind of physical altercation

My son is in year 8 and yesterday was pinned to the ground, twisting his wrist behind his back as he went down ( we went to a&e to have it checked after school as swollen and bruised ) and was then held down by this boy.

My son is 5 foot 5 and the other pupil is at least 5 foot 9 and a lot bigger built.

The boy was pinning him down with his legs trapped underneath him and his holding both of his arms on my sons right arm ( fingerprint bruising is visible because of this ) so my son used his left arm to hit out and hit the boys head.

Boy then get off and walks across the playground and son sits on a bench holding his sore arm.

The boy then returns, runs at him from the side view and punches down on my sons head.

SLT state both to be suspended due to violence.

I have started absolutely not, that the violence is on completely different levels and one was very much in self defence and one was completely premeditated.

I’ve sent in the complaint from from the schools complain procedure policy and I’ve CCd the SEN governors as my son has ADHD.

This happened at 11am yesterday and he spent the entire day in isolation, only being allowed to go to the lunch hall to get something to eat and then return to isolation.
Surely this is punishment enough for defending yourself whilst pinned to the ground?

Thoughts?
Anything else I could do? Thanks

let the school investigate, they are in a better position to do so than you

Any witnesses?

I assume you were not there and therefore only have your son’s version of events?

think about that. Let the school do their job.

I'd ask about the progress of the school's investigation.

And then see if it backs your DS's version.

And only then decide whether to do anything about the sanction applied.

Cctv?
You say he hit the boys head while being pinned down. Are you sure that's all he did?

Have you notified the police?
I'd be letting the school know that as this appears to be asuslt you will be rendering to those with actual investigative resources.
Also go through the complaints process and I would consider speaking to SS

I don't see how if you're pinned to the ground, face down with one arm twisted behind your back - how you can then hit someone with your other hand, enough to make that person release you and get off. I'd be checking the full facts of what happened.

I'm sorry for your ds though and it's frightening to have this happen. You need to understand why it occurred so you can work this through both the school and your ds. What you don't want is for it to escalate further...this should be the priority, rather than the suspension.

You cannot insist. You can only ask.

As others have said you need to be very sure of the whole story before running in making any sort of insistance of these things. Even from how you have reported it there does seem to be flaws in what you have been told.

Sorry how are there flaws?

You have your son's version of events which in the moment he was feeling scared/angry/shocked. He can't actually be 100% about his actions in the moment, I don't think many could. I would ask to have a meeting to be told what the investigation discovered what happened. And take it from there.

This is how the version of events was given to me by a member of SLT when I was contacted.

Then when I collected my son at the end of the day his story was the same.

The SLT said that my son was pinned down and the boy was leaning over to the right of his body with both arms on his right wrist so that’s why his left arm was free to punch him which made him get off.

3 witnesses, all the same story.

CCTV doesn’t cover the playground which is madness - I asked for this to be viewed and was told it’s only in the corridors.

I have reported to the police although my son is worried he will now be in trouble for hitting the other child but I felt it needed reporting as am very worried about this boy doing something else / worse on his return to school after his suspension considering after he was hit, he left the playground and then decided to come back and punch my son in the head.

This isn’t my son’s version.

This is the version given my SLT after the entire investigation was done all day yesterday.

Surely if it was that black and white then your son wouldn't have been suspended? Seems a odd choice to suspend a victim.

What started the fight?

I would not have reported it to the police without your son agreeing to it. Was it a random one off incident? Was there a history between these boys? Why did the other boy pin your son to the ground in the first place and what led up to this?

I suspect the other boy will be suspended for longer.

Also, did your son want it reporting to the police?

So your don was bullied and attacked and school suspend him too? I’d be livid as he did nothing. Glad you got police involved and make sure the suspension is lifted. Get governors involved if needed.

Did you not question the SLT on their decision to suspend your son then, given what they told you? It seems odd to suspend him if he was completely innocent.

Suspension isn't always a punishment though. Suspension from work due to an ongoing investigation isn't the same as a disciplinary. The suspension could be to allow the school to investigate etc

You can make a complaint to the governors though.

My youngest DS (he is autistic and ADHD) was attacked in a dinner queue. Because my son punched one of the 5 attackers in the face the school said they had to consider suspension because that's the default for violence. Perhaps that is line your school.is taking.

Look through the behaviour policy and the SEND policy and SEND Information Report to see the school's stance.

In the end he was not suspended as the teacher who saw and broke up the attack (and was injured themselves and therefore involved)had to agree to punishment of suspension for my DS and they refused.

Sorry I should have added more to my rushed first post.

Absolutely I questioned SLT why on earth it was appropriate to suspend my son for defending himself whilst pinned to the floor.

Her exact words were “ He used violence and in our school that’s the line in the sand “

I went on to ask if she would use violence if trapped on the floor by someone and was met with silence.
She then said If I was sending him into school Monday then I would need to fill out an official complaint on the school website which I did.

Yes son did want it reporting as he is very worried about what this boy’s reaction to him will be when back at school and doesn’t feel protected by staff as says nobody watches the playground and obviously no CCTV footage.