DD year 13 just lost place at college due to anxiety - not sure where to start as she needs to complete her education this year

[Bizzy7]

DD has just lost her place at college in the second year of sixth form - her final year at school (year 13). She has been sufferring from severe anxiety which has kick started cyclical vomitting. It all started when a teacher spoke to her inappropriately about sexual matters in year 12 which resulted in her becoming very anxious and finding it very difficult to go back to college after the summer holidays for her final year. She suffered bad panic attacks, vomitting, etc. The college was informed what had happened and they said they would support her and the appropriate steps would be taken in investigating the situation with the teacher. However nothing has been done and on 14th January 2020 the college emailed us a letter informing us she had lost her place at college as according to Government Guidlines after 4 weeks non attendance the college can withdraw her place. She is a hard worker and achieves A's + B's and has never been in any trouble at school throughout her her entire schooling career. I feel like we have been chucked to the wolves. They have stated that she can do her exams at the college which is why I have tried to remain calm. We need to enroll her with tutors or online schooling as a matter of urgency as there are assignment and course work deadlines which have met and work handed in to be marked but I don't know who to hand them into now and the college are not replying to my emails. Does anyone know who I can contact to ensure my DD doesn't miss any deadlines with her work which could very seriously negatively affect her final marks (she has been working hard at home and keeping up to date with school work). I just cannot believe this is happening to us at this late stage and would appreciate any advice or help please. My DD has worked extremely hard throughout the last 12 years of school and is eager to finish this year and start fresh at university.

have you tried phoning the college? I would phone and discuss your concerns about her coursework, and I would also phone the education otherwise helpline (08445 867544) for advice. all the best x

That sounds terrible. My DB has a similar vomiting thing, it's horrible. Is there any right of appeal to the college? For example could you ask for reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act? Someone like the Children's Legal Centre may be able to help you (this isn't my area of expertise but there must be somewhere you can get further advice).

Thank you both for your messages, both very helpful. I have contacted the College this morning but had to leave a message as the people I needed to speak to were unavailable so I have emailed them as well. I am going to phone the Education helpline now and contact Children's Legal Centre. Will let you know how I get on. Thanks again.

Gosh that is really tough. I am surprised they would kick her off the course for being too ill to attend and wonder whether this is really allowed - perhaps you can get advice about this from someone knowledgeable? I don't know anything about that subject.

Mind you, if you don't get anywhere with the college quite quickly, it might be expedient to suck it up and hire in the help you need. With only a few months to go before exams, perhaps there isn't time to try to force the college to provide the support they should be giving.

One thing to do straight away is verify that they are definitely still allowing her to sit exams at college. Do you have that in writing from them? I understand it is possible to get a copy of the exam entry so you can check for yourselves that they have entered her for the correct ones. Some schools and colleges send a copy to young people as a matter of routine so as to avoid mistakes. You can also use that to find out which exam boards are being used, so she studies the correct syllabus and sits the right mock exams at home.

My DD was out of school for a year but just before GCSEs, it was good for her at that point but I'm glad she went back for exams, it is much more difficult then especially where there's coursework.

They are fobbing you off because they don't know how to deal with it.

Before you phone or write to anyone, get a list of the dates and facts in writing. Ask why the promised steps were not taken and on what basis they are justifying their decision. State clearly what you want (your daughter to be reinstated, and for acknowledgement of their mishandling of the situation/failure to address the issue that caused her anxiety). Then ask what they intend to do about it, and when they intend to do it by, otherwise you will escalate it immediately to the appropriate authorities (sorry don't know your school or situation so don't know who they might be but you can complain to the council and the Dept of Education).

Do they have a board of governors, head of year, exam/coursework coordinator? If so phone them and email all of them immediately. If not get the Principal's direct line and say it is a matter of urgency. You will have to keep phoning I'm afraid.

Thank you again for the messages, I honestly appreciate your advice. I agree we are being fobbed off and have given them today to respond but they haven't as yet so I will escalate things on Monday. I was hoping not to get on their wrong side so that my DD can sit her exams at the college but at this stage I'm not sure that is even still an option since they are completely ignoring me. I have an email saying that she can sit the exams with them if she is feeling up to it and in my email today I asked them to confirm that is still the case and also to give me dates etc. Also we have decided that home schooling and tutoring for the next few months until exams is the best option now. She has been working well on her own and will continue to do so with help from tutors. There is a Board of Govenors who I will contact together with the Department of Education. I agree about trying to get the principals direct line too, I will give that a try and will document dates and facts as suggested. All very helpful advice and much appreciated. Have a lovely weekend.

I taught myself a new A level in 6 months, I went to an FE college revision class and used a correspondence course. I got an A (before A*s). Hopefully she's covered most of the syllabus now. There's no coursework is there? If sitting them at college isn't an option your local HE group(s) will be able to tell you about exam centres, or there's this https://he-exams.wikia.org/wiki/Findingannexamcentre

Academically able students can teach themselves A level subjects using revision texts, online tutorials and private tutors to plug the gaps. Your best bet would be to contact the home school team at your local educational authority, and register your child as home schooled. Additionally contact the exam boards to check any deadlines for work. The way that the college have handled this is dreadful and contrary to the Equality Act. You could make a formal complaint, but if you want to do that then I would recommend that you see a specialist solicitor as they could help you with a case. This could involve compensation as it is clear damage to academic outcomes at a key stage for a vulnerable student. If I were you, I would do this. Not for compensation reasons but to penalise shoddy treatment by the college, and to hope they correct their handling of similar situations in the future.

I just wanted to add that if your daughter has severe anxiety then she may qualify for DLA/ PIP. This may help with the costs of exams, private tutors etc.

TabbyStar thank you for the information and well done! At this stage I have heard back from the College who say they will let her sit the exams there and we can submit any work to them and they will then submit it to "turnitin". I recently sent in a PDF so that they can't tamper with her work but they say it has to be a word document which I've now submitted. Unfortunately we are at their mercy at this stage and cannot jeopardise our position any more than it is. Thank you Scoobydoo1971 for your very good advice. We have been given my DD's exam timetable through the college who I am trying to keep on our side at this stage however I agree about making a formal complaint against the college which I plan to do once my DD has nothing more to do with them. Not for any monetary gain but to ensure they understand that their behaviour is completely unacceptable and to help any other students in the future. I will keep you all posted and am very grateful for all your help. Thank you.