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Secondary education

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Original poster

Am I being a pratt?

33 replies

KatyMac · 07/04/2011 22:43

DD's class was kept in today for 15 minutes for bad behaviour (fair enough, I don't like class punishments be it can be hard to identify the trouble makers)

But this meant DD missed the bus home; rural school, no safe possibility of walking home

Do I mention to school that I found this a bit inconvenient as leaving work to 'pop & collect her' was tricky

Or do I just ignore?

OP posts:
lelly88 · 07/04/2011 23:02

if the teachers need to impose a punishmenmt it should be a school dictated penalty not ad hoc. a note of complaint needed.

RoadArt · 08/04/2011 01:17

Schools need to be aware of the consequences and in your case where the buses are likely to be few and far between this shouldnt be allowed but I dont know what the legal situation is.

I personally would complain in writing so its on record

madhattershouse · 08/04/2011 01:25

The school I went to was reliant on school busses. If children were to be kept late it was with a 24hour notice so alternative arrangements could be made. Some children came from over 20 miles so missing the bus was a big deal. If your dc use a public service this will not be the same but they should be made aware...not everyone has the ability to collect their kids if this happens. How far do they have to go? Our local secondary is about 5 miles away, if this happened to us it would be a real problem!

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/04/2011 08:35

This is school buses, it's too dangerous to walk (national speed limit, windy road, no no pavements)

I wasn't sure if I was being awkward

OP posts:
ElsieR · 08/04/2011 08:39

I was always under the impression that legally the school could not keep students more than 10 mins after school without giving notice to the parents. This is not good. It sounds like desperate measures by a teacher who does not seem too much in control..

ElsieR · 08/04/2011 08:41

Oh yeah and I meant to add, do tell the school nicely and kick a massive fuss if it happens again.

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/04/2011 08:48

How does this sound?

I?m sure I haven?t been told the whole story; so I wonder if it could be clarified for me.

DD (surname class) missed the bus last night ?because I was kept in by a teacher?. While I quite understand the need for discipline I am concerned that she was then stranded and unable to get home.

If this isn?t what happened, I need to address the issue at home; however, if it is what happened I need to understand the thinking behind a 13 year old being ?stranded? miles from home and the expectation that I can ?drop everything? and leave work to come & collect her.

I had understood that this sort of punishment should be arranged in advance so that collection arrangements could be made.

I would appreciate this being addressed promptly

OP posts:
ElsieR · 08/04/2011 08:51

I need to understand the thinking behind a 13 year old being ?stranded? miles from home apart from this bit I think it's perfectly fine.
The reason why I don't like this bit bit is because you make it sound like they deliberately make her miss the bus. Otherwise the rest is very reasonable.

yellowvan · 08/04/2011 08:57

This eduwight.iow.gov.uk/the_lea/admin/images/DETENTIONOFPUPILS.pdf specifically mentions not detaining students on buses. i think your letter is very restrained, but you are wise to allow for the possibility that you might not have the whole story. Whole class detentions are the sign of a teacher not coping imo.

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/04/2011 09:00

Is this better

If this isn?t what happened, I need to address the issue at home; however, if it is what happened I need to understand the expectation that I can ?drop everything? to leave work to come and collect her.

OP posts:
tethersend · 08/04/2011 09:04

It's worth knowing that the legislation on keeping children behind at school without notice changed this week. I will try and find details, but effectively it gives schools the power to keep children behind the same day without notice. I'm not sure how this affects rural schools with transport issues though. I'll see if I can find the details...

tethersend · 08/04/2011 09:05

Sorry about terribly written post- too many distractions!

ElsieR · 08/04/2011 09:05

Yes much better. tbh I'll be surprised if the school argues with you. I don't think there is any point in flying off the handle on this one because it was an individual teacher's (bad) decision not a whole school policy.

tethersend · 08/04/2011 09:13

here about halfway down page

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/04/2011 09:34

Thanks

I feel rural schools with school buses are a bit different; but that might be terribly unfair of me

OP posts:
vj32 · 08/04/2011 09:36

The article says this is part of draft legislation currently going through Parliament ie not yet law.

As far as I am aware the previous rules still stand: 24 hour notice for anything above 10 mins after school. (Unless the school gets around this by having a privileged end time and later official end time of the day, to allow them to keep pupils later without notice.)

Either way the OP should get it recorded that her DD gets the school bus and cannot be kept behind without notice as she cannot get home safely. Probably worth getting this written in her planner/journal or whatever as well as speaking to the teacher so this doesn't happen again.

starfishmummy · 08/04/2011 09:50

The school has a "duty of care" to the child. If they keep them behind with no notice and without making sure the child will get home safely they are failing in this.
If you an't sort it out with the teacher then go to the head or even the governors.

IloveJudgeJudy · 08/04/2011 09:50

I'm usually very supportive of schools in general, but i agree with you that in this instance they were wrong; for whatever reason, she missed her bus and that can't be right without prior notice. My DC walk home and so I have no problem with them being kept behind, but some of their peers do have to catch busses and have to be given notice.

I think you should get this clarified and I like the idea of your writing something in her planner that she can show to a teacher. In your case, because I know that sometimes teachers won't listen to pupils, I would give her your permission only if such a situation occurs again to walk out of the detention to ensure that she catches her bus.

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/04/2011 11:41

No response to my email yet

OP posts:
ElsieR · 08/04/2011 11:47

Who did you send it to?

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/04/2011 11:56

The head/copy to office

OP posts:
ElsieR · 08/04/2011 12:04

Are you expecting a response today?
I suspect the office would have forwarded the email to head of year.
I think you'll be lucky to get a response today, but maybe I am too cynical!

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/04/2011 14:21

School closes for over 2 weeks tonight

I don't think I am happy with it hanging on until 26th April; I certain can't punish DD after that long a gap (IF it were her at fault)

OP posts:
bruffin · 08/04/2011 16:40

My DCs travel by train. DD is on the school council and managed to get approval for a scheme where all the children that travel by train are given a card to show the teacher, so that they are not kept late.

HSMM · 08/04/2011 19:22

My DD (yr 7) travels 10 miles by bus to/from school. She has managed to clock up one detention so far (lost her rough book) and was given it at lunchtime, due to the fact that she has to get the bus.

I did point out to her form tutor at parents evening last term that I would fully support the school's disciplinary procedures, but that if she was given a detention after school, I would potentially have to ask 6 parents to leave work early (I am a CM).

I think you are right to find out whether notice wasn't given by the school, or whether you just didn't get the message.