What are after school detentions given for at your DCs school?

[LynetteScavo]

DS2 has been given an after school detention for not having his book in class. Personally I think it's a bit harsh as it's his first offence, but then I'm the one having to re-organise my plans and spend a couple of hours collecting him.

My friends son in Y11 (at a different school) has been given an after school detention for getting an A on a past GCSE paper, when he was expected to get an A*.

What's normal at other schools?

Lyn, is your son in Year 7. Things that my DD's school were bothered about in Year 7, they don't seem to give a toss about now. I think they are just to get them to focus on thinking for themselves in some instances. My DD's school made it clear to parents early on that they are expected to support the school over detentions.

My DD has had two detentions - scribbling on someone' book during first term. We knew she was getting hassle from one girl, but turns out a group of them kept on at her and she reacted. Detention involved tidying up (putting paper in the bin) and then she was told to read so did her English homework, ie reading!

Second detention was in Year 8. She misunderstood in class and had done the wrong thing. The tutor sat with her during the detention while she did the correct set work and actually helped her - he then said she'd done so well, he'd wipe the detention of the system, so I think in retrospect he realized she'd made a genuine mistake.

Detentions can seem harsh and I certainly didn't expect my DD to get them. She's now in Year 10, loves school and has a school position given to a small percentage who have outstanding behaviour, so it won't necessarily continue with detentions.

Well I've spoken to the very lovely and reasonable HOY who totally agreed with me and said DS could have a lunch time detention and a "rollicking" from him if it happened again.

He's Y8 so I suspect they crack down on them now after being very soft on them in Y7.

SheGot that's genius!

Lack of equipment or PE kit results in a "c1". When the child had 3 "c1" they get an after school detention. I think the system is fair and works well. Forgetting a pen or ruler on repeated occasions affects learning. It is overalls harsh to have an after school detention for forgetting a book once. Children are human and everyone makes mistakes.

In terms of what the OP said (low marks), ours has a separate system of 'subject reports' which are activated for poor achievement whatever the cause, and it's a mix of extra help/encouragement, and requiring attendance at lunchtime or after school homework clubs (24 hours notice is kept after school, parents can defer if good reason, but must be done within a week). It's got a different name because it's slightly separate from the main discipline system IYSWIM, even though it can mean compulsory attendance out of hours.

Minor infringements (uniform, equipment, handing stuff in on time, very minor disruption) are recorded, and if there are three in a half term, then it's an after school detention (again, 24 hours notice). Straight to detention for major breaches of rules. Or if really bad HOY or HT intervention.

Fingers crossed for the future, but so far we've only had a couple and they've been for three minor breaches, not more serious issues. They are expected to do their homework when in detention, and if they don't bring any the teacher gives them an age-appropriate homework-type task from a stock kept for this purpose.

Two DCs in (Y8 and Y10) and I have no idea what detentions are given for.... no, actually, I do. The child who uncharacteristically lost it and slapped DS in the face in the middle of a Chemistry lesson got one.

Minor equipment / uniform stuff seems to be dealt with in a totally commonsense way (usually loan and verbal warning), behaviour is dealt with primarily through report cards that have to be signed by the teacher in every lesson, detention and internal exclusion for major stuff.

I would be horrified if low marks were punished with a detention. At my son's school the teacher writes "nee" (not enough effort) on work where it its obvious that child has not made an effort. The child has to then re do the work by the next lesson. If the child refuses to re do the work then they get an after school detention to re do the task.