Does "Age, Aptitude and ability" apply to state schooling too?

[Vallhala]

Apologies for knowingly posting in the wrong section. I've just added my experiences with an LA (as a former HE parent) to the Thread of Shame, then I realised that you ladies may be best equipped to help with a problem I have concerning DD so I hope my contribution is a small compensation for barging into the HE section with a school-related enquiry.

My problem is this:

DD (12) is at state secondary. School tests say she is of average to above average intelligence but that her handwriting is, in the words of the SENCO, very slow" and that this is preventing her from moving to a higher stream (and, imho and experience and reading between the lines of their comments), is also contributing to her being bullied although it's not the primary reason. School has as a result said that they will apply for her to have extra time in exams, which they are sure she will need.

DBecause the bullying was not being properly dealt with or resolved I recently submitted a formal complaint to ths Head, including in this my concern that they were not offering to address the slow handwriting problem with extra tuition. I added that I would support the school and assist with this at home but that of course I would need to know the school's way of working on it as I may well otherwise be contradicting their tuition and practices.

The reply I got was to the effect that they will offer nothing to overcome the problem. In my experience as a former HE parent a child must be educated according to her age, aptitude and ability... yet surely this is not the case if she is being educated at a lower academic level than her brain will cope with purely because the educator is not assisting her in improving her handwriting speed in order to facilitate it? Surely she is able to, and has the aptitude to achieve more, with the right help?

I'm convinced that a EWO from a LA wouldn't find this acceptable if DD was home educated. So, I wondered... does the age aptitude and ability requirement apply equally to state school pupils or is this peculiar to HE ones please?

If it applies on both counts I'd be very grateful for any advice on how to tackle the school about it and/or what to quote at them.

Thank you for reading this, I know you all have a lot to deal with, not least with the current proposals and wish you all the best of outcomes both with HE-ing your children and in dealing with the politics of HE.

It applies to all children, and this is why it's thrown at home educators. There's nothing a home educator has to do that a school doesn't because (unless this crazy govt gets it's way) it is the duty of the parent to see that the child gets an education, not the state.

This in one way makes it easier for schools to wriggle out of stuff like this (they can fail as many children as they like because it's your duty, not theirs), but on the other hand, it does mean that the rules apply to every single child. So I'd throw this sentence at them, and ask what they are doing about it. Say that the education they are provided is not suitable to her aptitudes or abilities, as it should be, and how are they going to address this?

You may have a bit of a battle on your hands, but it's one I think I'd try and fight if I were in your shoes. Good luck and hope you get somewhere!

Thank you so much musicposy, that really helps and is a comfort. I'll do just as you've suggested.

Btw, I think I might recognise your username. If I'm right it's similar to that of a mum from another, now closed but once very popular and UK authority led forum iyswim. You wouldn't be a pianist would you?

If so, hi again and extra thank yous, your help on that other forum when I was undergoing hell as a HE mum was invaluable too.

Yes I agree with musicposy and will also add that it is section 7 of the Education Act 1996 that talks about age, aptitude, ability and "to any special needs the child may have".

Also section 9 of the 1996 Act says pupils must be educated in accordance with the parent's wishes so far as is possible (you need to actually read this section as it explains it in a bit more detail than I have).

You are already handling it in the right way although I wouldn't mention too much to the school that she was formally HE even though I am sure they already know this, as it seems to get the backs up of the schools. I HE and have tried to get my DC into a suitable school without any luck so we're emigrating next Summer so my DC can start a new school abroad instead. Good luck and don't give up fighting for the help your daughter needs. You sound a very good mum so don't let the school make you feel like you are a making a fuss about nothing.

Thank you Loveandlight. The school DO know I HE-ed and despite my DDs not being behind in any way other than DD2's handwriting - indeed, they often get asked "How DO you know that?" by teachers when they come up with something which is outside of the NC or above the expectations for their years - the Head is extremely po-faced about their past education and clearly disapproves strongly. Oh well, her problem, not ours!

I wish you and yous all the very best with your move, you must be very excited at the prospect of it. I'm rather jealous!