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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

kicked out fo Vith form

25 replies

asdmom · 20/08/2013 09:37

advice please my ASD son has just bombed his AS levels. Requested his scripts so we can see whether it was illegibility that is the problem as marks don't match any of his previous marks from school, no he didn't have a scribe or extra time . Been told he cant repeat the year at this school. No advice from the school re other Vith forms. Been ringing around but no joy as yet. Connexions are no help . He also has a statement so a school will have to accept that and also LA agree to move. Abs horrendous and running out of time for a Sept start. Would love to send him to a private college but don't have and couldn't raise the money needed for that. any ideas advice would be very much appreciated.

OP posts:

creamteas · 20/08/2013 13:15

I'm sorry to hear this. Do you have any state FE colleges near you?

Where in the country are you? Maybe if you give a location, people could give more specific advice.

SlowlorisIncognito · 20/08/2013 13:49

I would be looking at further education colleges too. However, if you absolutely can't find one, would self study (with the help of tutors?) be an option? You would have to find somewhere for him to sit his exams, and pay for them, as well as paying for any resources he needs, so it is not the cheapest option, but it might suit him better than a school environment.

Would you mind sharing his grades and the grades he ultimately achieved?

Could it be an issue of exam pressure?

If this is the case, a coursework based BTEC might be an option to consider. Many universities (including russel group ones) will accept these instead of A levels for the relevant courses.

Original poster

asdmom · 20/08/2013 14:08

Dear all we are in Liverpool. College is not a option as the ones here are far too large and inaccessible to him because of his High Functioning Asperers. He got 9A*, 2 AS and a B at GCSE plus an a at iGSCE but AS were E,U,U,U, C. As I said before we have asked for his scripts to see was it the illegibility of his writing as even his 3 As practicals were marked down from B/A to U. have managed to get 3 schools to see him on Thursday to see if they have any places in Yr 12 after the GCSE results. have looked at the extended Diploma in Applied Sciences but only offered at the FE Colleges here not in any schools. Home tutoring could be an option but then his social and comm skills will never improve and this is as vital as his academic progress as he has asperers.

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creamteas · 20/08/2013 14:53

Don't rule out the FE colleges before talking to them I have two DC with ASD and our local FE college although large has an extremely good disability unit and lots of ASD DC do really well.

Have you tried talking to your LEA and/or Parent-partnership service? They might be able to help.

insanityscratching · 20/08/2013 15:02

With a statement it won't be the school who gets to decide whether or not he has to leave tbh and if you want him to stay there won't be much the school can do about it as ultimately he would remain in the school whilst you appealed against a proposed change to part four.
What does your ds want to do?

insanityscratching · 20/08/2013 15:02

insanityscratching · 20/08/2013 15:03

Sorry don't know why that posted twice

LynetteScavo · 20/08/2013 15:12

Well, it's just my opinion, but the school are being ridiculous, IMO.

I can see that he may need to re-do Y12, but with GCSE grades he is obviously capable, and I would feel the school have let him down - and therefore be wondering if it is the best place for him anyway.

I really think you should at least have a look at FE colleges, if you get nowhere with the schools. I think you might be surprised at the support they are able to offer your DS.

mumslife · 20/08/2013 15:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

insanityscratching · 20/08/2013 15:52

Should add the LA won't take you to Tribunal if you want to keep your son in the maintained secondary as it's a costly process and would order the school to suck it up anyway. Speak to IPSEA.
I moved ds to a specialist independent school for sixth form by going through Tribunal it was a lengthy and costly process and I'm not sure you would have time to do so even if you began the process immediately.

Original poster

asdmom · 20/08/2013 18:01

thank you all for your advice. I hadn't realised we were in a position of strength as he is statemented. I will follow this up with LA tomorrow. SENCO is a joke, only spoken to DS once and that was after his review in June!! Don't think she even recognised him. Problem has been as he was dual enrolled there from Yr7 as a guest pupil, he accessed all their mainstream studies except PE and PSHE which he did at his Special school next door. They got his point scores but the Special school looked after him and even provided the LSA at first and then basically a "minder" for him from Yr9 when he was severely cyberbullied at this school. So he has gone under the radar basically. If they had said he needed help to access the exams or mentioned how illegible his writing may be for examiners I would have made sure something was done to help him in his exams. Just feel I have let him down with this. I have posted on special needs board but few responses as yet. the local FE College rang today and have accepted him to redo his AS levels but basically he is scared of the size of the place, the noise and the constant movement needed around the buildings, Yes he has visited and was very uncomfortable. He is hoping he may get into one of the schools we are seeing on Thursday or be able to stay were he is.

OP posts:

insanityscratching · 20/08/2013 19:44

You need to contact the LA and tell them that you want the statement to continue to be maintained at the school he is now. You can tell the SENCo that his statement names the school and to remove him would require the LA amending his statement. If they did it would give you the right of appeal and ds would remain there until a tribunal ruled otherwise. Tribunal waiting times are in excess of five months and nearer six. These six months would only start after the LA issues an amended statement which should cover ds's next year in school most likely.

admission · 20/08/2013 20:56

I suspect your position of strength is not as strong as might have been suggested over having an SEN statement. Up to year 11 education is compulsory and the statement can name the school and in effect you will practically always get that school. However as soon as you go to year 12, schooling is not compulsory and the school has more wriggle room as to whether they wish to accept pupils. You are however in interesting times because it is compulsory for those who have been in year 11 to now continue in education to year 12 or another recognised form of education / apprenticeship for september.
I think you need to go back to the school and ask them how they have managed to so badly to educate your son over the last 12 months that he has so badly failed his AS levels, ask them where they stand in terms of his statement of sen, which they have so miserably failed on and being very blunt how much bad publicity the school needs if they do not explain this and sort this out.
I do also have to say that I do not believe that the results are down to poor handwriting. If your son did not have help with handwriting at GCSE level and go a string of A* results then he should have been able to get reasonable results at AS level even if the handwriting is bad. Not sure how you get a U in practicals from being assessed as A/B. Are you sure he actually took the tests?
You need to get to the bottom of what has happened and again the school need to be explaining to you what has gone wrong, not just saying goodbye.

insanityscratching · 20/08/2013 21:09

But admission the statement will have to be maintained up until the child is nineteen unless the LA propose to lapse the statement. Should they propose that, a parent has the right of appeal and the statement remains in place unchanged (and so the child can stay in the school named upon it) until a time that the Tribunal decides otherwise. The fact that education is compulsory or not isn't the issue the legal protection of the statement is paramount.

insanityscratching · 20/08/2013 22:29

More information here www.ipsea.org.uk/AssetLibrary/How%20we%20can%20help/Taking%20Action/Case40.pdf

prh47bridge · 21/08/2013 00:18

I agree that, under the Education Act 1996, the statement continues until the child is 19 so I think the school needs to explain how it is complying with the statement. In all other respects I agree with Admission.

insanityscratching · 21/08/2013 07:56

Agreed something has gone very wrong for that child in that school and the school need to be giving answers But it isn't the school's decision as to whether or not the child leaves and so they should be reminded of that. However I would probably be exploring my options as either the statement hasn't been met and he hasn't got the support he has needed or the school have been uncommunicative with the parents (as flunking didn't come out of the blue there would have been plenty of indications in the last six months) and neither situation would inspire me with confidence that keeping him there would be a good thing.

Original poster

asdmom · 21/08/2013 14:14

Dear all SUCESSS :-) he has been unconditionally accepted at a lovely much smaller VIth form to redo Yr12 and his AS levels. He has this time chosen to redo just 2 of his Sciences and pick up History and Geography.
SENCO brilliant and already getting on to sorting out access arrangements etc. It is a very very good school and they want him, big plus is he immediately liked the calm atmosphere and smaller site. Big confidence boost for him, so much so he went on his own, back to the other school after the meeting, to request a reference and his GCSE certs, plus cleared his locker out while he was there! He isn't totally over what's happened but seems to have taken those first few important steps. Will be interesting to see what his AS exam scripts bring to light when they arrive. Forgot to say previous posters were correct they couldn't have kicked him out, but LA are happy to change school named in Section 4 as they agree it will better suit Alex's needs and his academic hopes. Can I say a huge thank you to everyone who responded to my cries for help, it helped me focus and gave me options to help my Ds x

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insanityscratching · 21/08/2013 14:23

That's great news, I hope Alex is really happy in his new school and gets the grades that reflect his ability.
Do telephone the LA though and let them know he will be moving schools because you wouldn't want his old school to get any of the funding attached to his statement in error

Original poster

asdmom · 21/08/2013 14:46

Dear insanityscratching, thank you and yes already rang LA and they are on it immediately. Also going to check this reference tomorrow and if it is in any way negative I will be in there creating merry hell and requesting it is changed there and then!! :-)

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Laura1999 · 21/08/2013 19:18

Delighted for you and Alex! This sounds like the start of something good ... Young people need to know that schools/colleges want them - it's a very empowering feeling. Good luck to your son.

creamteas · 21/08/2013 21:01

That's great news asdmom

Original poster

asdmom · 22/08/2013 13:28

well ex school never fail to disappoint. Reference now not ready till 2mrw. they offered to post it out. I declined and said I will collect it 2mrw! Then at least I can read and if necessary ensure it is accurate and factual. Ds feeling confused but new school said No problem. Lovely people

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Original poster

asdmom · 23/08/2013 14:01

relieved, just collected reference and it was glowing. So new uniform now bought just shoes to do. For anyone who has ASD DCs they will understand this is the termly angst!! Each day Ds is getting stronger and almost back to his usual self. Again thank you all for your support and advice

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HisMum4now · 23/08/2013 14:20

Good news and all the best to your DS.

However I would get to the bottom of what happened. Did you see his exam papers and come to an opinion? Was it exam anxiety on the day or something deeper like difficulty with hidden expectations in exam papers? Your comment that his controlled assessment was remarked from pass to U might indicate that the answers he has given didn't count this year...

My ASD DS knows hist stuff well, but doesn't understand hidden expectations in questions, so he doesn't address them. The government pushed to change the marking practice and grade boundaries this year and ASD DC would suffer most from this.

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