How many detentions is normal/average?

31 replies

elliejjtiny · 02/12/2022 14:38

DC1 had 2 level 1 detentions (for homework being late) while he was at secondary school and dc2 has had 1 so far for having an autistic meltdown in class and throwing a sponge (now in year 10). But dc3 has now had 5 detentions already and he is only in his first term of year 7. They are all level 1 detentions (10 mins at break time). He has adhd and struggles to think before he acts and gets easily distracted. Not sure if dc3 is really struggling or if dc3 is normal and my older 2 are perfect.

OP posts:

Chiwawa · 05/12/2022 11:04

Schools that just give out detentions with nothing else in place aren't good schools. If there is proper oversight, a high number of detentions in a short space of time is recognised as an indicator that a child isn't coping and needs additional support. Whether that is behavioural support, undiagnosed SEN being identified, or new strategies for a student diagnosed with SEN when the current ones aren't working.

This is spot on. Unfortunately there is a big disconnect between the SEN policies and what happens in practice and a laziness around discipline. Many teachers responsible for behaviour aren’t looking at why things are happening or interested in making things better for everyone involved but just want to stick a plaster over it. Job done!

TizerorFizz · 05/12/2022 13:07

I think some “standards” are not attainable on a consistent basis though. My DD1 boarded. One girl always forgot things she needed for lessons. Yes it’s annoying but help should be offered. It was. The other girls reminded her. It was support from friends not a ridiculous set of rules and punishments. These schools just need to punish real offenders and work
out how to help the SEN DC. A perfectly decent DC who forgets something once should not be punished. It wouldn’t happen at work and it shouldn’t happen at school.

@Chiwawa What a shame for your DC. I guess he has friends so is reluctant to leave. In reality parent partnerships are a sham in this type of school and awful teachers just push forward their version of the latest discipline fad. Parents quite like it when it suits their DC. I think it is lazy and doesn’t meet the needs of many DC who, in my experience, respect fairness and sensible rules above all else.

Mogwire · 05/12/2022 13:09

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123woop · 05/12/2022 14:49

@Mogwire yes, same. I don't understand it - it's not their fault they can't concentrate!

Feetache · 06/12/2022 07:26

There's a trust of schools near me that hand them out for everything. Parents I speak to like the tough approach but also say they ignore a lot of the behaviour reports as they are petty.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 06/12/2022 20:08

elliejjtiny · 04/12/2022 16:58

Thankyou. I've had a really useful talk with his TA and she is going to put in some more support for dc3 after Christmas. She is also going to ask the teachers to email me with details when they give dc3 a detention because a lot of the time he doesn't seem to know. She also told me that dc3 is doing really well all things considered and that although she can't name names there are a lot of children in his class getting way more detentions than dc3. Which was reassuring.

Is he with the same group for all lessons? Is it the right environment for him? If lots of others are getting lots of detentions, it sounds like there might be a lot of disruption, which will be hard for a student with ADHD to manage. If he was in a quieter, calmer class, do you think he would be able to manage his impulsivity better?

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