School's punishment of all boys in year 6

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My son is in Year 6 and has done SATS this week, today was meant to be a fun day for them as they've finished all the papers.

But my son came back from school really upset as the teachers had separated the girls and boys and he says the girls got to do fun activities and given treats but the boys got told off and given a lesson on respect.

He's taken this badly and has said things like 'I must be bad because I'm a boy'.

It's such a shame because he's worked really hard and was otherwise enjoying SATS week, but now feels horrible about himself, the teachers who told them off and the girls getting rewarded when all the boys were punished.

I feel like I need to speak to the school next week and find out what's gone on and why. I also feel like making a complaint. But I'm not sure what they are going to do to make things better even if they did agree with me that it was not a great way to deal with some boy's bad behaviour and also very bad timing so should I just forget about it...?

My son's school have had a rough week with the year 3s.

The head yelled at each Y3 class Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday they were informed all 90 were losing lunch time on Thursday. Thursday comes and we get an email informing us they were kept in to be lectured by the head again. At 7 and 8 children were given the option to decide if they should stay or leave if their behaviour is good. Obviously the non-problematic children stayed.

My non-problematic autistic adhder stayed to be lectured for 25 minutes whilst the kid who keeps hurting him left.

Lots of very emotional children today. School don't see why.

Collective punishments are just poor practice, the kids who care are not the ones generally involved.

Agree with @RawBloomers

As your son wasn’t involved he shouldn’t be punished
This is discrimination

The school need to apologise to those boys in person that were wrongly punished and they need to compensate for the ‘fun’ day and treats.

I’m not usually a school complainer but I’m really disgusted by this treatment of the boys.

This is why teachers need be paid more. Imagine the dirt of precious children & parents they daily deal with. SMH

Agree
I wonder if all the girls who didn’t step in in the pps scenario were also punished as they too weren’t part of the solution so therefore part of the problem. In fact in this scenario anyone in the vicinity would be the problem.

Is it OK for teachers to be sexist because I think you’ll find discrimination is against the law

This TA may be passing on her own views of the situation.

Something has clearly happened and I shouldn't think its just about playing football.
When something bad happens children should go and tell an adult or try to stop it. When they just stand and watch it gives permission to the 'badness' [whatever it is] to continue.
The cry ' I didnt do anything' is exactly the problem.

Its a hard lesson for all

Then we would have to assume the entire year of boys were in the same vicinity and at the very least saw what was going on. At the same time we would have to assume no other girls whatsoever except for the actual victims were anywhere near the incident

Dont know about you but that’s stretching it all a bit too far imo.

They punished all the boys because they wanted to punish all the boys
Meanwhile
None of the girls, including those who stood by and did nothing, were punished.
Sexism

Thats utterly reprehensible

Collective punishment isn't ok. Definitely ask for an explanation and raise your concerns if it looks like punishment was given purely on the basis of being male

https://qpol.qub.ac.uk/collective-punishments-classrooms-breach-geneva-convention/

Thanks, sorry I did misunderstand, was probably getting a bit defensive

My son is in bed now and feeling a bit better, had a nice evening and did our own celebration for his end of SATS week

Well that is going to play right into the hands of the Andrew Tate types isn't it?

It's not the job of 10 or 11 year old children to police other children, especially if they are at risk of being bullied themselves. Besides, how many of the boys saw or heard what was going on anyway. My DS hates football and takes part in lunch clubs he wouldn't be anywhere near the football pitch. What about the ND lads who keep themselves to themselves and arent aware of the social goings on of thier peers (my other DS is like this, he wouldn't have a clue).

It's sexism, plain and simple, it's unacceptable discrimination and it's cruel given the timing. I wouldn't be diplomatic about it OP.

Glad your son has had a good evening.

Hope you come back next week to update us on what you find out from the teacher/Head.

It was all the boys in year 6, there's around 100 of them

That's a really good point, yes, I will remind him that the girls didn't get to choose this either, he has some good girl friends

Aww brilliant. I’m glad he feels better. Deserved a lovely evening!
From what I can gather (I’m in EYFS and haven’t seen the papers) they weren’t easy

You realise this is not the full story right ? What have the boys done to be punished ? If your son is not telling you then clearly he is schooling not to

I hate it when teachers punish whole classes because of a naughy couple of children. It's extremely lazy.

Did you really just suggest that girls have the same responsibility as boys to call out sexism?

No
My sexism comment was about the teachers! and the way they treated All of the boys…..which was clearly sexist !

( Although since you’ve brought that up of course I do
We should all call out sexism
Im a women, I definitely would call it out……wouldn’t everyone?! )

You said “Meanwhile
None of the girls, including those who stood by and did nothing, were punished.
Sexism”. Way way off. This is a male thing. Boys need to learn now that not calling out sexual behaviour is sexist. Girls by standing are victims. Not perpetrators.

You need to ask for context and build your constructive criticism around that.

Sounds like they have handled this really badly though. All the DC should have had a celebratory day at the end of SATs.

They should have had the behaviour chat next week and use crystal clear communication with the DC (and the parents) about what is acceptable. The consequences should be about attendance on the Y6 PGL week

DC1 was in a 'naughty' class at primary school- basically a few boys, who all played football and had older siblings so knew all the swear words etc.
The whole class was told about how if they misbehaved, those individuals would not go on the Y6 residential. My DC1 knew it was about a small cohort of the class but we used it to have a good chat about how to choose friends because you could be perceived as guilty by association

You should definitely complain, blanket punishments that include the not-guilty pupils are totally unfair. Would we prosecute every shopper present in a shop just because a group of shoplifters happened to target it when they were there? Of course not. Personally I would pursue this to the highest level, providing you are sure your DS did nothing wrong. It is blatant sex discrimination. So formal complaint to HT, then governors then the next level according to type of school eg LA, DfE. Presumably your son leaves soon so you have nothing to lose.

Another poster suggested if you stand by and do nothing you are equally guilty.
They suggested that’s why all the boys were punished

I noted
If the girls stand by and do nothing then they should also be guilty by that very reasoning. To assume they are not is pure sexism. Which it is….obviously.

If you treat all of one sex collectively guilty of something just because of their sex then you are being sexist. In leaving the girls out they clearly were being sexist.
They cast blame on one group of people only based on their sex and nothing more.

This has nothing to do with girls calling out sexism….that’s got nothing to do with my point at all.

You’re modus operandi is discrimination
You cannot collectively punish one group.

Punishment is for the guilty only

I'd have a chat with him on the merits of collective punishment.

My sons a lot older but when he has seen real Injustice at school he now takes it up directly with the dsl himself. Mind you he is at the kind of school that has time and resource to deal with this properly.

I don't think everyone should be tarred with the same brush, and unless your ds is in tiny prep it's possiblec he wasn't within ear shot

I agree.
Im not a school complainer and stand by school rules and teachers decisions always but this has to be taken as high as you can