Corporal punishment??

[Itaintmebabeitaintmeyourlookin]

We entered ds for a local private school as the local state is in special measures where our older kids went , and he has been offered a place. As I was finalising the acceptance letter etc I noticed the terms and conditions had the following

Corporal punishment is not used except when parents have expressly allowed use in advance in every case

WTAF ?? I googled it and wiki says it has been outlawed in 1987 in state or part state schools and completely outlawed in all schools in UK since 1999

So why is it there, is it a mistake?? Do I have to change my mind and tell ds he is no longer going? Or ask the school ??

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Send him, if you like the school aside from this. After all, it says they're no using it.

And quietly report them to OFSTED (if that is who inspects them) or tip off the head and Governors that they have T&C which appear to be in conflict with national law.

I can't send him until I clarify it.. If they are horrified and say it is out of date ok, but if not I fail to see how it's legal.

I can do a cover letter to say my ds is not to be manhandled under any circumstances...theres another bit saying how teachers can touch pupils to maintain good order or provide comfort which to me hints at restraining in some way for fighting??

Estyn inspect them which is the welsh ofsted

Yes I will discuss it with them... Nothing else I can do.

Anyone else experienced same?

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I think it's illegal. It's only my opinion, but you don't need to beat kids to instil discipline. In fact I'd say it's a sign of a poor school if they do need to. I'd worry about the overall ethos if they think that's acceptable.

The point is, it's been illegal since 1999 and so it either had to be a mistake or something very bad via some weird loophole .
If someone hit my ds in any way at school I would inform the police.

Oh sorry thought this was the other tread in AIBU!

I e mailed them and they have deleted it, it was an oversight