Can I legally be kicked out of college due to pregnancy related absences

[kElise1]

So im in my last year of college, I have a lot of prior health conditions including asthma, fainting disorders and arrhythmia, and of course pregnancy weakens your immume system due to this I have had the flu once and super cold 3 times since the start of september (its ridiculous). Oh and the fact i am high risk for preeclampsia and ges diabetes, both of which im already showing possible indicators/symptoms of at 15 weeks preggo. I go to a top college producing loads of oxbridge students and A and A* students, so they only want the best students and when i told them i was pregnant they promised to support me, my teachers kept that side of the bargain, higher ups did not, due to illness ive missed 50% since september (and im still doing better than some on 100%) but they want to kick me out as they fear i wont achieve my predicted As and bring down the college's average, ive told them since the start all the issues and have been verified by my mum. Can they legally throw me out of college due to my attendance, even though it is caused by pregnancy, also my I add this women who is higher up broke confidentiality and has not treated me fairly since the start and just as an inconvenience even though her place as director of student support.

Perhaps you could ask about taking time out and coming back next academic year? If you could show them a clear plan for how you'd anticipate maintaining sufficient attendance, that might be a workable compromise?

It might also be worth looking at alternative schools/colleges? Sometimes the most "results-focused" ones aren't all that supportive of students with additional needs or other responsibilities (such as being a parent), and the intensive nature of those places can be difficult to cope with when you're also responsible for a small child and recovering from pregnancy and birth yourself! There are lots of very good colleges which are more flexible in their approaches, have on-site or local childcare services (or links with them), and which might be more supportive of your needs as a new parent and a student. Even if the school you're at has a good reputation on paper, if they're not supporting you then you might have a more rewarding time and have a better chance of fulfilling your potential at an establishment that's more committed to supporting you. Possibly something to consider?

It's also worth bearing in mind that, with a baby coming along, your life is going to change a lot and what you want to do in terms of time out from education and future career plans might well change too. Once your child is here, you might decide that you want to take longer to be at home with them, for example. And that's absolutely fine. These days, education is available at all ages, for everyone, and lots of people take time out for various reasons, or come back to education later in life. So, try not to worry too much about these school subjects at this college at this time. You have plenty of options - you can choose to take the options that are right for you and your baby, you don't have to follow one particular path here.

In terms of the school's reputation, the overwhelming majority of people honestly don't care which school you got your A-levels from in the long run. Good grades are good grades, and if you choose to go on to university, people are going to be more interested in your university studies and other experiences, rather than where you had your secondary school education.

I hope you've got good support around you. There are also some specialist initiatives which you can access through the NHS in various areas, which look to provide young mums with additional support. You might find it helpful to check what's available for your area?

If you’re sitting your exams a year later, what’s the reason for staying on now? Wouldn’t it make more sense if you’re struggling with your health now to stop this year and start again in September when the current year 12 start year 13?

Would they let you pause now and return sept 22?
Or do they want you off their role?

I’m trying to work out which gives you best chance of success.

@Skyeheather the issue is badger notes only covers my community appointments as ive with 2 hospitals, so forexample my scans and emergency care issues don't have accessible records unless im willing to wait many procesing weeks as they are a much larger hospital, and then my local surgery and CAMHS centre I'd have to try to gather the appoinments from

Hang on - you're working 20 hours per week whilst being so ill your school attendance hovers around 50%?

@PurpleDaisies @Rummikub This is what i brought up as if im sitting my exams next year it would make sense to defer the second year especially as they want me doing remote learning from 28 weeks in a couple months (which confuses me as to why they have an issue with me doing it at home at the moment). But they want me to do my half year then figure out the last 1/5th of my alevel myself without teaching, they show a lack of consistency and keep changing their mind. I think it could be due to it being a hard college to get into and they have a high rejection rate so me being in next year would take another possible student (extra money to them) out.

Are you living alone? Is that why you are working 20 hours per week on top of school?

@GreyhoundG1rl im rota'd for that but due to being ill ive had to miss a lot of that also, for me to allow myself to be off college i have to be off work too so that way i am only taking off necessary absences, so some weeks ill work 27 hours (like this weekend+monday) and others itll be 0

If you’re not sitting the exams, that makes no sense. When are you planning on sitting them? Which year?

I’d it’s a hard to get into college, they won’t want anyone pulling down their results so I can’t see how they’d enter you without having been there for a year.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I'm not at the moment but i will be from january, with my partner, at the moment im with my mother who struggles so i pay for most of my food, my bills including monthly computer payments plus cost on microsoft office etc, commuting to work and helping with my travel to college which is £5 a day and from jan itll be £10 a day

Sorry but this isn't making a huge amount of sense. All medical professionals will provide an appointment card even if its just a hand written complements slip if you explain you need proof for school - even in covid times. Most hospitals are set up online now where you can view upcoming and past appointments. If you are struggling with MH issues your CAMHS practitioner can provide evidence/back you up as the stress from the situation is going to be impacting your MH so its relevant. As pp noted this is all going on whilst your working 20hpw?? It sounds like you're trying to use the pregnancy as an excuse for your absence but nothing of what you describe is pregnancy related.

@PurpleDaisies I should be doing it 2023 when originally it wouldve been 2022 with the other students in my year, however they now want me to sit 2022 right after birth but ill have no childcare, by stating they wish to do this they are giving reasoning to get me out due to the extra cost to place me in for exams 2 years in a row, also ill add im yet to be told this and have only found out through my mother

Why can't your partner watch while you do your exams?
Colds don't count as pregnancy reasons you've only been in college what 9 weeks and you've been off multiple times..? Sounds to me they don't think your committed enough.. colds aren't a reason to stay home.

[quote kElise1]@PurpleDaisies I should be doing it 2023 when originally it wouldve been 2022 with the other students in my year, however they now want me to sit 2022 right after birth but ill have no childcare, by stating they wish to do this they are giving reasoning to get me out due to the extra cost to place me in for exams 2 years in a row, also ill add im yet to be told this and have only found out through my mother[/quote]
Your college is telling you you need to sit your A levels immediately after giving birth? As in the June 2022 exam session?
This is quite confusing because they won’t need to pay for you to sit the exams then since you won’t be sitting them. If you are already entered, you can be withdrawn as a candidate.

@JustOneMoreStep where a lot of appointments have occurred over the phone its difficult because the appointment slot doesnt count for the extra wait time involved, my college is 40-50 mins away from all hospitals so i have to factor that in, im rota'd for 20 hours however only completing that on weeks im okay and subsequently have been into college and as the appointments have been over 4 places and with me being at college at the times 3 of them are open its difficult to ask for them as the only possible time is during my commute but there is only signal for 5-10 mins of the 40 min journey. In a way i wish it was all an excuse as then i could actually attend, i love my subjects so missing out upsets me as they are so cool and interesting, however also having to miss work has put me in financial strain as im losing a couple hundred a month, but i have always had bad attendance of course not this bad but in the region of 70%-80% which has all had the okay

@CurseofChristmas definitely agree colds arent enough thats why ive sat in classes with it, its the uncontrolled asthma causing me to having multiple attacks a day and then the fainting so ill be getting food in college, well at the shops and then have to be sat for the next 30 mins before going home, a lot of the absences ive gone in in the morning but my teacher has sent me home but since i didnt go through the nurse as my train comes every hour so if i miss it im screwed xD. And my partner will be working, he doesnt qualify for parental leave due to when he started and my mum is a teacher so away during that time of day and then i dont have anyone else to help me. And ive already been in for a year so most content is done

@PurpleDaisies exactly xD itll be impossible as theres no childcare for me at that time, but all my subject teachers agree 2023 is the best option, they are wonderful and supportive and arguing my case, its just the fact ive got a grumpy director of faculty

And ive already been in for a year so most content is done

You’re only two and a bit months into year 13. You can’t have possible have covered most content.

@PurpleDaisies we accelerate most so for example my makeup finishes in february and we can meet contact time limits even with that, psych we have 2 topics left which take a couple of months, as we have two teachers so everything is doubled in time, and in bio we have 1 final component which we start december and takes 2.5 months, the rest is exam practice, they really drill the content in so we do as many practices as possible

I think you need to book an appointment with student services and go through all the issues to try to find a solution.
From the outside, you're juggling too many commitments. You can't possibly be fulfilling any of these satisfactorily and it will be even more difficult behemoth your baby arrives.
As much as women should be able to 'have it all', it's not realistic to be able to juggle all of your priorities at the same time bid you also want to keep as healthy as possible.

Thankyou everyone, this has been quite helpful :)

Why is your mum struggling so much?

@CorrBlimeyGG just being a solo income

I think you have too much going on. I think you should focus on your health and baby for now. Then look at going back to education when things are more settled.

You may find this of use. The school cannot discriminate it against you because you are pregnant and should make reasonable adjustments.

www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/what_equality_law_means_for_you_as_an_education_provider_schools.pdf