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Education

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Original poster

was wondering about part time school - just a theory what do you think?

14 replies

Tortington · 12/10/2005 10:56

ok i dont know why i am thinking this - think its a guilt thing and i get crazyideas from time to time.

back ground - which is relevent. my dh is going to have to find another job after xmas. am really hoping he gets one where he can work from home - long shot.

so my youngest son is failing dreadfully at school. as you know am not a soft arse - and to be honest his future is mapped out - he wants to be a carpenter and his older brother will be doing and apprenticeship in construction so he even has a link in.

so was wondering 2 scenarios. go to school for 3 days a week then home ed for 2

we couldnt do full time home ed becuase we work.

other scenario

if dh doesnt get a job at home - can you pay someone to home ed your kid - say in the afternoons or something?

want him to still have the social stuff that comes with school - but would like him to actually learn something.

none of this crazy shit wil ever come off but wondered what you though and whether LEA would allow such a dastardly plan?

OP posts:

spacedonkey · 12/10/2005 10:57

I'd recommend getting in touch with Education Otherwise - there are definitely parents across the land doing such things, but I think support varies from one LEA to another

CountessDracula · 12/10/2005 10:57

custy I remember hearing on here that you can arrange a shared education on an individual basis with the school - sure someone will know

NotQuiteCockney · 12/10/2005 11:00

I've certainly heard of private schools going along with this sort of plan.

And yes, you certainly can hire a tutor to help out - a friend of mine who is doing home ed does this.

Original poster

Tortington · 12/10/2005 11:12

really ..hmmmm... how interesting. so i am guessing that you are up to your eye balls in people who monitor progress then fromt the LEA?

how structured does it have to be for a 12/13 year old - i mean would buying some books from wh smith kinda do?

supposing we have no idea of the topic - i mean dh is good at maths, but what about french? OMG will have to send him to live with rhubarb ( hes a good worker will pick grapes and will bike ride for an hur to the local patisserie for a croissant)

i want to concentrate on english and maths - and leave the other stuff to school - how possible is this.?

OP posts:

spacedonkey · 12/10/2005 11:14

LEAs vary quite a bit in the amount of monitoring they do - but afaik none of them hassle you very much. With home ed you don't have to follow the national curriculum at all, so it's your choice about what subjects to follow and what books you use. But I guess if he is still going to school part time then you won't want to conflict too much with what he's doing there ...

CountessDracula · 12/10/2005 11:17

custy this looks a good site

CountessDracula · 12/10/2005 11:17

custy this looks a good site

CountessDracula · 12/10/2005 11:17

bugger that keeps happening today

twinsetandpearls · 12/10/2005 11:20

I am sure that the school will be glad to hear from a parent who wants to find a way to make the school system work for their son. I have taught kids who are in school part time either because they are being tutored elsewhere or are doing something more practical that suits them better. Maybe you could find a somewhere that could enthuse him about his carpentry even if it is only a few hours a week so he can be reminded of where it is he wants to go and what he is working towards.

swedishmum · 12/10/2005 13:21

I kept ds at home in the mornings for a while - didn't have to be agreed with LEA, just school/parent agreement. I'd work out a proper proposal with your reasons for it and some idea of what you want to do. I agree with CD - Schoolhouse (though aimed at Scotland) was one of the best websites I used. There are tons of materials out there - maths websites in particular. Also I would hope the school would support you by offering help with curriculum/materials. The only problem mine found (though they are much younger) was putting up with all the silly petty rules and regulations back at school, and not being listened to.

sunnydelight · 12/10/2005 14:25

I'm pretty sure it's up to the school on this one, not the LEA. I'm a member of Education Otherwise and I remember reading a story about someone whose school allowed it for a while, then stopped when another child came along looking for a place. You definitely don't have a legal right to a part time school place, but you do have a legal right to home school. This does not have to be formal lessons as long as you fulfil the obligation to provide an education appropriate to your child's age and ability. Neither is their any obligation for your son to sit formal exams. We considered home schooling our 12 year old last year (year 7) after he was assaulted by a teacher (other thread!), but eventually found a different school for him. If I remember correctly you're in Brighton? There are out of town options which might suit your son better. I know a lot of kids in most of the secondary schools in Brighton and from what I can see most of them only cater for the academic high achievers.

Original poster

Tortington · 12/10/2005 15:26

i'm in worthing sunny, what out of town options do you mean?

can i thank everyone for their information was most useful.

talked to dh earlier and thought he would tell me to take a long walk off a short pier - but he asked me (this is dh) to put together some information and then we will talk about it,

thanks

OP posts:

sunnydelight · 12/10/2005 17:24

I was thinking Downlands in Hassocks, or Heathfield Community College because I thought you were in Brighton custy. I know kids who have transferred from Brighton schools and have done an awful lot better without the "city cool" mentality. My son is at Chailey but it would be a sod to get to from where you are. Remember, if you are not looking at the usual entry years (i.e. year 7 for secondary) it's much easier to get a place in a school that wouldn't be your closest - you can get a place at a school outside your area if there are spaces. From my experience, the more rural schools are smaller and a lot of kids do better because they get treated as individuals. I'm sure there are other similar schools in West Sussex that would be more convenient for you. Chailey, for example, has good links with Plumpton Agricultural College - some of the less "academic" year 10s for example do one day a week at Plumpton for things like mechanics (it's not just "farm school"!!!). Best of luck - I hate the whole school thing.

Blandmum · 12/10/2005 17:50

Custry will the school not place him on an alternative curriculum? We do this for kids who go to collage (not your fav option atm i know!)

He could then do english and maths etc in school. We run a scheme where kids were withrdrawn from some lessons to have more time to spend on other core subjects. They couldn't be in the calssroom for all of those, because of teachers working with other classes etc, but they did have extra work set.

Could you ask the school if it is possible?

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