AIBU to think a two-day suspension for bringing a knife is too lenient?

[Rodion]

What punishments have similar issues incurred at other schools?

A new student who only only arrived 2 weeks ago brought a knife to school. It was found by a teacher when they had to move his bag as he'd left it in the way. As the teacher picked it up the knife fell out. It was a weapon-y knife as opposed to 'just' a kitchen knife (although they obviously can be used as deadly weapons too) or pen knife. He's recently turned 13 which seems so young to me. Police were called to school and spoke to him and I obviously have no idea what their consequences may or may not be, but the school's punishment is a 2 day suspension. Fellow students were all shocked at how short the suspension is - much less serious things have historically incurred far longer. Thankfully eveyone seems to think the kid is an idiot for doing this and he hasn't gained any respect, but there's a general air of outrage that something so grave gets so little consequence. That said, it is perhaps part of a pattern of things not getting taken seriously by the new head. Lots of bullying has received nothing but a telling off recently.

I am curious about how such things have been handled at other schools. In my head an expulsion would seem reasonable but I have nothing to base that on really.

Expulsion at my son's school. It happened to someone I know.

Expelled and reported to police.
Letter home to all parents with a signed slip to be returned (so school knows they’ve received it)
Announcement in classes and assembly.

Sounds like the school was directed to take him by the local authority. This can mean that their hands are tied because anything they do is overruled due to either a LA direction or if an academy, from the Secretary of State.

Of course there isnt an emotional support knife, what are you talking about?

In my experience, pupils have been permanently excluded for this, regardless of motive/reason.

In normal circumstances the child would be permanently excluded; in over 30+ yrs as a governor, we have only ignored this once, for a Yr 6 who was three weeks from the end of term. I cannot tell you what angst this caused the staff and governors, but for this child it was the right thing to do, as well as for other pupils. It is never black and white, it is always murky shades of grey.

"But some kids arent carrying knives because they need emotional support"

Well he was back in today so it seems getting sent home on the day of the incident counted as day 1 of the 2 day suspension. I'm very unimpressed to say the least.

Very confused. Criminal age of responsibility is 10. Carrying a knife is a crime. Police attended. Presumably, the young person has been charged and will appear in court.

As a teacher, one of my issues is that schools are forced into positions of responsibility. We're not the police. If a crime has been committed, then it's a police matter.

It would help if you ask a question rather than just quoting a line. I dont know what you are asking

I work with children, many of them say, say mind you, that they took a knife into school because they're scared/trying to protect themselves/trying to protect mum/brother/sister whoever
Or they take a knife in because they dont understand what it means and they're just angry but tey dont know why

Those kids may need emotional support.

The other kids (who may also need emotional support but in a different way) are NOT carrying knives due to a self perception that they need to be protected or need support, emotional or otherwise. They are carrying knives with a view that they might quite like to use it or be considered by peers as someone who might use it. That is a different kettle of fish.

No the police are highly unlikely to take any action on this. Ive rarely seen it and lots of the kids I work with (not in schools) take knives out with them and into school.

I honestly don't care what his life story is- bringing a knife to school should result in instant permanent exclusion and be reported to the police. The cavalier attitude to the lives of staff and other students is shocking.

That is PX territory.

It’s insane. From personal experience, it is very difficult nigh on impossible to impose proper punishments on students such as exclusion for things that clearly warrant it - knives, threats, violence etc. The situation is insane, and all other students are being put at risk

Agreed. Whatever ‘emotional support’ they need pales into insignificance of the safety of every other pupil and member of staff. They should be nowhere near others.

In every school I have ever worked in this is an automatic permanent exclusion.

Sadly, even for the lovely troubled girl who we knew was self harming and not a danger to anyone else. Bringing a blade into school and being caught with it meant she was gone. Bringing a knife or drugs in was an automatic exclusion, no excuses, no argument.

Schools I’ve worked in it was an automatic permX. When DD was in year 7 a girl brought one in and was only suspended, she was chaotic and did many stupid things before she finally left.

It does not matter he would be expelleed

The child will just be moved to another school though.

Most get PEX'd due to the circumstances (they've threatened someone and the knife is found during a search etc).

We've had one or two who get a 5 day suspension and a managed move because they've had one on their person and it's dropped out of their bag or someone has seen it in their things.

It's the threat part which is taken the most seriously right or wrong

My post should have said “students and staff are being put at risk”

This is very worrying. The school are not sufficiently safeguarding its students. Would the child have a background in wanting to hurt anyone?

This happened at my school a few years back, the kid was permanently excluded.

For us that would be an immediate permanent exclusion or, at a push, work with another school for a managed move if we felt it would in successful. The child’s experiences would be taken into account but we probably wouldn’t change the outcome of something like this.

Far too lenient and the child's circumstances don't come into how dangerous this could be and the possibility of horrific outcomes. Protecting others has to come above the bad circumstances some people grow up in.