Permanent exclusion

[Dadd19883]

My 15 year old son has recently been permanently excluded from his academy school. In brief, he took a knife from home to school, he didn’t threaten or show the knife to anyone but told pastoral care he had it, they called the police & he was arrested. He was assessed by mental health services and referred to CAHMS where he has been referred to a psychiatrist. At the time, he complained of hearing voices and suffering from mental health issues. He has had issues in the past which I have been trying to work with the school on.
He has no history of violence etc and is generally a nice kid at home. He isn’t the most studious of kid and has had disciplinary issues at school in the past. I’ve akways worked with the school on this.
My concern is that I am being advised that he will need to go to a pupil referral unit, this is basically a borstal with books and he is worried/scared about this.
The permanent exclusion meeting is due for sept, I understand what he has done is wrong, it seems it was more of a cry for help. Has anyone had any experience of permanent exclusions? Can a managed move still occur? Any advice would be appreciated!

I am a teacher and if this happened at my school (also an academy) it would be a fixed term exclusion of 5 days not a permanent exclusion.
You can challenge the decision I believe. Managed moves still occur but they are normally a step to prevent a permanent exclusion.

I am afraid that no matter how nice a kid he is, taking a knife into school will be taken very seriously and PE is most likely to be the end result in any such situation.
The school, as in the Principal of the Academy, will have to go to the pupil disciplinary meeting and show that the school are making the right decision in permanently excluding the pupil. I would try to establish what the reason for taking the knife into school was. If it was just for bravado etc then I do not think the discipline panel will consider this other than an appropriate punishment. But did he take the knife into school as he was being bullied or something of that nature?
In terms of what happens next. You as parent are responsible for keeping son away from school for the first 6 days and then the responsibility for teaching your son rests with the Local Authority. They may well say that he has to attend the local PRU. The process of appeal etc then has to be completed before you and the LA can come to an agreement for son to go to a second school but this may well take a long time. The LA have a responsibility to find a new school.
A managed move can be arranged at any time from now until the start of the discipline panel meeting in September. Once the meeting starts it has to finish. A managed move can only be with the agreement of the two schools and the parents. I can understand that many schools will be reluctant to take on a pupil who brings a knife to school but you need to be trying to get the headteacher of the current school to seriously consider such a managed move, reminding them they only have till the discipline meeting to do this and that is in the best interests of the school and the pupil to make this happen.

Yes, in my school bringing a knife into school (no matter what for) is a PE straight away.

This is to keep people safe. Teachers, students, everyone. He MAY be able to attend another school but (and this may sound harsh), would you want your child going to a school with someone who had previously brought a knife in? Would you think your child was safe (?).

a PRU may be the only choice. Have you visited where he is likely to go? We have some fantastic ones near us - definitely not just a borstal with books.

And unfortunately, he may be scared but there are consequences for actions and for those who break the law / break the rules, hopefully this is enough for him to learn now rather than ending up in prison down the line.

"this is basically a borstal with books "

This is not my experience of PRUs.

Often they provide a place where young people who do not thrive in mainstream schools get more individual attention, flourish in smaller groups and can focus on the core subjects they need and look at other support and extra-curricular.

Thanks, do you have personal experience of them?

Could you home educate him, if the PRU is not an option?

Hi
I have registered and name changed to write on this thread.
My eldest had major mental health problems that I posted about- to the point be was sectioned for over two years and diagnosed with schizophrenia.
He attended a Pru both before and after being sectioned and has gone on to attend university. I am not saying it's ideal but tbh it's a permanent (unless he was in hair's breath of doing his exam) at the school I teach at. Being at a pru means much smaller classes, lots of support, targeted learning etc.
If you want any advise from a parent who has been through it feel free to pm me.

PRUs are NOT borstals with books.
There is a very big one near where I live and it is a lifeline for kids who need personalised support
and for their former classmates who need less disruption.

If the school permanently exclude, they have to manage the transfer into the PRU
look up your local PRUs and read their Ofsted reports

if your son has had MH and behaviour issues, the PRU might be the best thing to happen to him in quite a while

Here is the website of a random PRU
www.londoneastap.org.uk/
Here is an information page about them
londonprus.co.uk/

Some PRUs are outstanding. Others are not. You can find out what your local one is like. Ofsted inspect them.

I’m not sure I would argue any bullying excuse because that half suggests he had a target in mind. He should express sincere remorse. Say he’s never done anything like this before (assuming it’s true) and ensure you state this was a first disciplinary offence but only if it was.

If you have evidence of him being dared to do it, then say so. Otherwise you need an explanation because he cannot have thought it was a good idea - surely? Try and stick to his good character in the past as a reason for overturning the PE but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be holding my breath. Schools just cannot tolerate this idiotic behaviour and I hope he can be helped. The PRU could be the best place for him.

The PRU that we end up permanently excluding to is superbly well resourced and they have access to a lot of very high level support. Don’t write yours off.

After 8 weeks they reassess to see if he is able to go back into mainstream or not. It’s important he engages well and they can try and make this happen.

Thanks for the replies I appreciate everyone’s opinions.
I will take these onboard & provide you with an update in due course.

I'm so sorry this is happening, it must be horrendous for you.

I would definitely challenge the decision and ask for a managed move instead, but I would concentrate my efforts primarily on his mental health and wellbeing. My recent experience with CAMHS is that you have to be the squeaky wheel - we have had to push, remind, demand and insist at every single stage to get any kind of service at all for our son whose issues are really quite acute.

If a PRU is the likeliest option, look into your local ones, go and see them, take your DS to visit - this will help dispel some of his fears and make the process less intimidating for him. They aren't Borstals, not at all. Many of them are very nurturing and he may actually settle and do well, if a managed move isn't a possibility and he does go to a PRU.

for you, it's so hard.

Sorry to hear, it must be hard for you both

I'm another one saying don't assume the PRU will be bad. There are a lot of very good ones around the country. If your son ends up there he will be assured of very small classes, high teacher pupil ratios and staff who will want your son to achieve at his very best. They will also be experienced with youngsters with mental health issue.

Try hard not to be negative to your son about the PRU. I am sure you will do everything you can to keep him in a mainstream school, but he may end up at the PRU - even for a short while while another mainstream place is sorted - and honestly it won't help him if you have been negative about it.

I have a primary aged child who went to our local PRU for half a term. My partner and the mainstream school kept using it as a threat, "if you don't behave you'll end up at the PRU". Actually when he went he really benefitted from the small class size, and I reckon his class teacher knew him better after a week than his mainstream teacher knew about after almost a whole year.

@hackneyLass Thanks, I think I’ve been too negative about the local PRU, reading these comments have altered my perception and hopefully my son will benefit from the smaller classes. Thank you for your advice.

@Greensleeves Thanks, it is very difficult atm, but raising teens is never easy!
I appreciate your advice.

@Stomacharmeleon I really appreciate your comments, I will PM you at some point to discuss further. Thanks

Thought I’d update everyone. I’m pleased to say my son is thriving at the PRU, 1to1 attention, grades already improving and now has weekly work experience at a local garage. He also has some group session with CAHMS. Early days but things are definitely looking up. More importantly, he’s much happier. Thanks again for everyone’s opinions and guidance.

That’s great Dadd, really pleased to hear it

I am very pleased to hear this too. I hope he continues to do well.

Hi OP, I remember your initial posts. It's great to have such a positive update - I really hope this is a good year for you all.