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Secondary education

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Original poster

Temporary exclusion and threatened permanent exclusion

193 replies

user1483060276 · 30/12/2016 01:22

I have a resolution meeting at the school in the New Year. Son (15) was caught with cannabis in school and excluded. They have also threatened to permanently exclude him.

Has anyone been to an "resolution meeting", what should I expect, and how can I best prepare?

OP posts:
CauliflowerSqueeze · 30/12/2016 20:36

It's actually not hugely relevant whether it's legal or illegal in this situation. It matters what the school's policy is, because that is what will be followed.

The reason your son doesn't think it's a big deal is because you don't. If he knew you would go absolutely ape shit he would either have been deterred from doing this in the first place or he would be in a complete state of panic and contrition right now.

BoneyBackJefferson · 30/12/2016 21:01

Cauliflower

It really does matter that the exclusion is done legally (the school's policy has to stand up to legal scrutiny), Because the exclusions can be overturned.

Although if the school and LEA has gone to the trouble of removing the child from the register, I am not sure that I would want my child to go back.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 30/12/2016 21:15

No sorry I didn't make myself clear. My point is that it doesn't matter that cannabis is legal or illegal; it of course does matter that the exclusion is done legally.

Princesspink999 · 30/12/2016 21:27

Sorry can't advise but I do feel for you - some kids (mine included) only learn by making mistakes. Stupid yes but not necessarily evil!! In my experience some of the most awful kids are well within the law but mean and nasty and I always think they wrongly avoid punishment.

Flowersinyourhair · 30/12/2016 21:35

Cauliflower- I think the fact that this child broke the law on school grounds will have a huge impact on the decision made by the senior team.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 30/12/2016 21:45

Only in terms of what their policy says.
A lot of schools will actually just give a FTE for smoking or possession of cannabis. The PEX comes with selling or buying on school property. But it depends on the policy.

prettybird · 30/12/2016 22:02

If he is doing his Nat 5s this year, he is only 15 and could still be just 14. What he has done is serious and he needs to recognise it as such (as do you, so that the school knows you're also taking it seriously). So his education will continue - whether that is at this school or through other means is still up in the air.

It is difficult to exclude but that's not the attitude you should be going to the meeting with. You should be going with a constructive attitude about how to support the school in its zero tolerance approach.

Ds' school had problems last term with fire alarms being set off repeatedly and then fireworks being set off within the school (this during a real and serious evacuation of the school due to a potentially dangerous power problem Shock). The culprit(s) have been excluded - don't know if it was permanently, but given that safety was involved, I'm not sure they would be welcome back.

If you don't want your ds to be excluded permanently or moved to another school, then make sure to go to this meeting with a positive attitude about how you can support the school.

BoneyBackJefferson · 30/12/2016 23:07

I'm wondering if the OP's DS not giving up the dealer is going to be a major sticking point.

GingerHollyandIvy · 30/12/2016 23:09

I suspect it will be.

bojorojo · 30/12/2016 23:48

I notice that the OP said her Scottish Local Authority had not permanently excluded any children in the last 10 years. I have now looked at the relevant Scottish legislation on school exclusions, and Scottish Local Authorities can devolve these decisions to schools. It may be this LA has taken up this option and therefore it appears no child has been permanently excluded. I worked in an English LA and dealt with excluded children - none in 10 years would have been close to a miracle.

BratFarrarsPony · 30/12/2016 23:55

All the other children have a right to be educated without children like your son peddling drugs

where does OP say that this was the case? oh yes she didnt say it, you just made it up....Hmm

Original poster
user1483060276 · 31/12/2016 01:35

Mythbustinggov - I've looked but I cant find the school's drug policy.

This got buried further up the thread, but thank you Polly53, this was really helpful.

^If I was leading the meeting I would want to know:
Everyone present shared an understanding of the facts of the case
Your son accepts responsibility for what he did wrong, makes a meaningful apology and is able to say how his behaviour will be different in the future
The support and monitoring strategies the school feels are appropriate in this case
You understand your role as parents in supporting the school with any monitoring and support strategies they feel are appropriate to the case
A clear acceptance by everyone that the use of illegal drugs in school is unacceptable^

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 31/12/2016 03:29

So, is that the strategy you'll. be taking as everyone has been saying from the get go? Or a list of demands of his rights plus technical reasons why they can't permanently exclude him as you've been saying?

What have you got in place to show "how his behaviour will be different in future"?

How are you going to ensure he gives "a meaningful apology" since neither of you really consider he did anything wrong and believe that there is no need to follow rules "for the sakes of it".

How will you show that you are supporting the school and monitoring him when you have said that you can't get too worked up about what he's done?

This will require a sea change in your and his attitude / strategy it seems to me.

Kr1stina · 31/12/2016 03:55

Op , I assume that you have read your local authority's policy for dealing with drug misuse in schools ?

Here for example , is Glasgow City Council's policy

www.eis.org.uk/Glasgow/images/mc71a_1207%20drug%20misue%20inc'%20aclohol.pdf

I assume that you do not live in Glasgow as they have a number of permanently excluded pupils but there will be a similar policy in your area .

Does you child have a social worker ? Have you been in touch with your Community Addictions Team .

Carollocking · 31/12/2016 05:20

Seems to me that your total lack of decency to others has rubbed off on your son fully so you can be proud to say like mother like son.
I hope gets permanent exclusion as other children have the right to be going to school without scum bringing in drugs.
As the saying is when you break the law you loose your rights as I hope the case is here,and a shame he wasn't charged with possession by the police also
I love the fact you think you know better than the school and if they choose to exclude fully you'll have lovely fun trying get your appeal case held before he turns 16,gonna look good on university application "missed a number months of schooling due to been on cloud 9"

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 31/12/2016 07:12

I have asked for the thread to be deleted

What a suprise...

bojorojo · 31/12/2016 10:11

Having read the Glasgow policy, it clearly says schools must have their own policies as well. Therefore, it should be on the school website. It is normal for a local authority to respond to legislation by such a circular and no doubt other Scottish authorities have the same guidance. The guidance is about procedures that must be followed so is a useful starting point but won't be precise regarding the school's policy. The school should have it on their website somewhere or it may be contained in their Exclusion Policy or Behaviour Policy or Discipline Policy.

It is clear that a parent must be fully informed of all relevant policies so this is vital. It is also vital that the incident has been investigated and notes kept. In terms of health, it is clear the school has to take drug misuse seriously. Therefore it is sensible to go into any meeting asking for help for "bunny". Taking the incident seriously is also vital and not trying to minimise the problem will be essential. Working with the school, if they are prepared to keep him and he didn't sell drugs, is what the meeting will try and set up. However, to do any of this, he will need to change his attitude and accept what he did was unacceptable. You will need to demonstrate you will support him and agree to this strategy.

When posters say children who have taken drugs should not be in school, this is utterly wishful thinking. Of course the majority stay in school - where else could they go? Drug takers schools? Prus would be overflowing. They do need to be monitored and schools will wish to minimise their impact on others. The vast majority of the time, other children think drug takers are "scum" anyway and do not want anything to do with them. When they get to university, they may have a change of heart though!!! A change of educational establishment is often a green light to experimentation.

BitOutOfPractice · 31/12/2016 10:33

I don't think many posters have said he should be thrown out of school. I have certainly been trying to advise on how to keep him there by handling the meeting properly.

EmpressoftheMundane · 31/12/2016 11:11

I think the fact that he is not naming his dealer will be a big problem. It makes it look like he is the dealer taking illegal drugs into school, afraid to give away his much more serious out of school dealer who is up the chain.

NicknameUsed · 31/12/2016 11:34

Some students at DD's school were found to have drugs on them earlier this year. It didn't take them long to worm out who supplied them and who else was involved. The police were involved of course.

GnomeDePlume · 31/12/2016 11:42

You have said your DS is aiming for a prestigious course. I don't know the Scottish system at all. Will this fiasco impact on any information which might go from school to uni? Do you need to consider what is on your DS's permanent record? While not ideal educationally would a fresh start be better overall?

TheCakes · 31/12/2016 11:54

Why are you more concerned about nicotine than cannabis? You do know the effects of the strong stuff they smoke these days, don't you? I work in the criminal justice system, and it's not a harmless little toke, and that's before you even think about getting involved with dealers and the associated crime and gang activity that comes with it.
If that was my son, I'd be very worried.

ilovesooty · 31/12/2016 11:57

In the school's position if you haven't already arranged support from the young people's team of your local drug service I'd be expecting you to accept a referral.

I'm a former teacher who now works in community drug and alcohol services by the way.

ilovesooty · 31/12/2016 11:59

And having seen the post above mine - I've spent years working in criminal justice as well. You need to be taking this more seriously.

BoneyBackJefferson · 31/12/2016 12:15

OP a quick thought

It is likely that they will put a good behaviour bond (like probation) in to any return to the school.

With will mean that he will have to behave but also that he will not be able to go around saying that he 'got one over on the school' or 'I said it wouldn't be that bad' etc.

Which given what you have said could be an issue.

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