Deceitful behaviour from school - don't know where to turn

[godofthunder24]

Hi,

My son's school denied him access for 3 days last year due to his mum having COVID. Following our own research we determined that it was unlawful for the school to deny access for this reason.

Once we presented the legal advice to the school they changed their advice and altered their criteria for allowing my son back into school. It seems very clear to me that they were concerned about the repercussions of unlawful actions and tried to misrepresent their original instructions.

I complained to the school and I've gone through the complaints process with the chair of governors, a complaints panel and the DfE.

The governors have consistently provided inaccurate information during the complaints process which I strongly believe is their attempt to cover up the schools original actions. The governors have access to all of the evidence which is in email form but they continue to misrepresent that evidence.

The DfE have confirmed that the decision to deny access was unlawful.

The Local Authority are not willing to do any other than ensure the school is adhering to the complaints process from now forwards.

I am literally sick to death of feeling wronged by the school and not having a channel that will listen to me and go through the evidence in sufficient detail.

I don't really want to go down the legal route myself but feel like I'm running out of options. Would be great to hear any advice from someone in the know or someone who has been through something similar.

Many thanks,
Ian.

I think there’s more to this.
No chance they had Ofsted in or something? How was he excluded but not? His exclusion would have been formally recorded…you’d have a letter or email,
How did the school even know the mum had Covid? Was your child ill too?

Listen Thor - let it go! Your son would have gotten over it if you hadn’t been harping on for months

Get a sense of proportion.

Missing 3 days of 'cool activities' at the age of 10/11 will mean nothing to your son unless you make it a big deal. He would probably have forgotten it by now (unless you never provide any 'cool activities' and his home life is grim - that's in your hands).

I’m sorry your Son was upset, but honestly, what is the actual harm to your son here?

There is no action (or compensation) due.

Schrödinger’s exclusion.
It happened and didn’t happen at the same time.
Maybe apply this approach to the apology, op. You got one, even though you didn’t.
It might give you peace.

Ah well.
It's your fault for telling them that your wife had Covid.

HOW DID YOU KNOW, ANYWAY?

Testing hasn't been done for years.

Because we're responsible people, COVID still exists and some people are vulnerable.

It's cracking me up that Ian's son isn't even at the school anymore.

This reminds me of the poster who complained after being propositioned by a teacher - went to the Governors etc

@godofthunder24 do you have children left at the school?
because all they seem to have done is referenced old guidance and stopped your son having the final three days but they have gone and aren’t coming back so just move on.

Those with vulnerabilities such as autoimmune disease still test and report. Often need treatment with antivirals.

I agree it was harsh of them to exclude him. My DD missed her Y6 transition because of the actual pandemic – it's a rite of passage that she'll never get back. However, your son has now moved to secondary, is presumably thriving, so any apology from his old school really is meaningless now. Plus, because you're so consumed by it, even if they said a million sorrys it still wouldn't be enough. Spending money on legal fees that you could spend on your family is also silly. Stop twisting yourself in knots with all this anger and letting it define your son's primary school experience. Move on. I suspect your DS wishes you would.

Oh. So you weren't surprised when you were told to keep your son off?

It's more about the obvious deceit being shown by the school. But you're right I've probably lost all perspective. Thanks.

What deceit? They seem to be using old guidelines - probably becuase they hadn’t had anyone tell them it was Covid for awhile they hadn’t updated the guidance. They were told so reverted to out of date.

So then what did you want them to do with the information?

Seriously OP, let it go.
Life is far too short! It’s a shame your son missed his last few days of primary school, but lots of kids miss this for various reasons.
It’s not the end of the world, is it?
The school messed up. No-one has died.
Your son has moved on to his new school. Onwards and upwards as they say.

Why did you report to the school - because some people are vulnerable and you’re responsible citizens - and then get so outraged that he wasn’t allowed in to pass the infection on to these vulnerable people?
The whole thing is just NUTS.

So... what was the purpose of telling them? Was your wife likely to try to enter the school and you had to warn them? Or you thought your son would be passing COVID on to others at school and just wanted to give them the heads up so they knew who ruined their summer holiday?

I’d want an apology too! Having also come across an appalling chair of govs after making a complaint, I see where you’re coming from. I moved schools and made sure people knew why. It’s the audacity - to lie and lie again in the face of evidence to the contrary - and yet you remain the problem, not the bunch of liars who are supposedly in a position of trust. It really changed my opinion of school governance (having also been a governor myself). The roles should be paid and governors properly accountable.

Sometimes people get away with lying/not taking responsibility for their actions. Often for things much more nefarious than this (which sounds more misguided than anything). It's frustrating, but i think.you have to take control and decide how much you'll allow the injustice of it to take over when all signs point to it going nowhere. Looking for an apology is ultimately about getting satisfaction and closure rather any material resolution, so I would recommend making your own closure instead of waiting for a fake apology from someone who doesn't care anyway.

Good god get a flipping hobby or a job.

Go outside and walk on some grass with your bare feet. Look up at the sky. Let it go.

Is this a wind up? You're responsible people but the risk of infecting others was dismissed if it meant your kid could attend year end parties?
And you're still pursuing this vexatious campaign for an apology?
Jeez...

Also Ian, you keep using the phrase "excluded". It sounds like your DS was asked to stay away from school because of his mum's illness but that's not an exclusion. Being excluded is a formal punishment for which there are processes that must be followed. So if your sticking point is that the governors and teachers are maintaining in their statements that they didn't exclude him – well, they're right, they didn't.

Bloody hell @godofthunder24

I don't see any way you are "winning" this one no matter what happens.

Put your time and energy into something else and stop dragging this out.
I'm sure the school and Gov's have more pressing issues.
And you probably do to.
Stop!!!