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Secondary education

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Original poster

Can a child asked to leave 6th form in private school for poor academic performance

113 replies

Oxfordplus · 27/08/2023 21:11

Hi. Just what the title said. I've researched this online and is seems that once a child has been offered a place in 6th form they can't be asked to leave if it is due to poor academic performance - it is against the law. They can be asked to leave for poor behaviour but not academic results. Does this apply to private schools though> I've spoken to someone who says that private schools are a law unto themselves and can do what they like. Am very interested to know the legalities of this as my DS has been threatened with being asked to leave if he doesn't do very well in his first set of exams (October/November). I've also found out that boys that did less well than him in their GCSEs have not been given this threat (they have siblings at the school though so the school is probably trying to stay on the right side of those families).

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 27/08/2023 21:12

Private schools can do whatever they like.

Hellocatshome · 27/08/2023 21:12

Private schools are a business and can therefore choose who their customers are.

escapingthecity · 27/08/2023 21:13

I know people who were chucked out of private schools for failing their exams. It's part of the contract you sign up to by sending kids there.

lanthanum · 27/08/2023 21:17

It was challenged when it happened in a state school, on the grounds that it was an illegal exclusion. However private schools are not subject to the same rules.

yogasaurus · 27/08/2023 21:18

Yes they can. As PP said, they can do that they want

MarchingFrogs · 27/08/2023 21:18

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/1101498/Suspension_and_Permanent_Exclusion_from_maintained_schools__academies_and_pupil_referral_units_in_Englandincluding_pupil_movement.pdf

This guide does not apply to independent schools (other than the academies listed above), city technology colleges, city colleges for the technology of the arts, sixth form colleges,16-19 academies or 16-19 free schools, all of which have separate suspension and permanent exclusion procedures.

One of the annoying things about state schools, some people think, is that they are not allowed to interview applicants, to weed out the undesirables, like indies can. Unfortunately, on the other side of the coin...

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1101498/Suspension_and_Permanent_Exclusion_from_maintained_schools__academies_and_pupil_referral_units_in_England__including_pupil_movement.pdf

Gliomes · 27/08/2023 21:20

Private schools can refuse to take your money at any time, for any reason or none.

Has happened to a few people I know when their young people had mental health difficulties.

It's one of the reasons my children are at state school - the child actually has a right to be there and there are checks and balances standing in the way of a head teacher unilaterally removing them.

crumpet · 27/08/2023 21:22

Check your contract with the
m

cansu · 27/08/2023 21:22

You said this on your previous thread when you were moaning that the school had been too lax. What do you want?

The school have actually just stepped up (a few years too late) and told him that if doesn't do well in his next set of exams (autumn), he'll be asked to leave. That's harsh but it might just be what he needs to step up and reach his full potential at last - he used to work well with teachers he was a little bit scared of but respected, and who expected a lot from ..

VeeandBee · 27/08/2023 21:22

Some private schools are very results driven and will ask children to leave who are not keeping up and meeting the required standard. Other private schools are more inclusive.
It's one of the things to consider when choosing a school

Gliomes · 27/08/2023 21:24

But on your other thread you are keen to take him out anyway.

Maybe you can get them to refund next term's fees though, if as you say he scraped his conditional offer grades but they are still not wanting him back.

Araminta1003 · 27/08/2023 21:28

If you have connections with journalists or a social media presence, then any renowned private school wouldn’t dare. They are brands. If you can kick up a stink and they know you are influential, they can’t do anything.

TicTacNicNak · 27/08/2023 21:28

There's a grammar school near me that selects it's 6th form intake by reference to ability.

Hellocatshome · 27/08/2023 21:34

Araminta1003 · 27/08/2023 21:28

If you have connections with journalists or a social media presence, then any renowned private school wouldn’t dare. They are brands. If you can kick up a stink and they know you are influential, they can’t do anything.

Unless OP is a politician or a celebrityI doubt they would care. A lot of people would actually see it as a selling point that the school won't keep the less able pupils there holding their precious darlings back in their learning. After all most people don't send their kids to private school so they can mix with a range of children of all abilities and backgrounds do they.

Original poster
Oxfordplus · 27/08/2023 21:36

Yes, it's me from the previous post. Although the threat is potentially motivating, some people's I've spoken to have said it's probably an idle threat to make him work harder and that the school wouldn't be allowed to do it. The threat would make him work harder but at the same time I don't want him to be thrown out of his school if he doesn't meet the grades they want (two of his subjects would be new so we've no idea how he'll find them).

OP posts:
Wormwoodgal · 27/08/2023 21:40

Yes, independent schools can and will do this. There's no appeals process.

Original poster
Oxfordplus · 27/08/2023 21:41

Hellocatshome · 27/08/2023 21:34

Unless OP is a politician or a celebrityI doubt they would care. A lot of people would actually see it as a selling point that the school won't keep the less able pupils there holding their precious darlings back in their learning. After all most people don't send their kids to private school so they can mix with a range of children of all abilities and backgrounds do they.

Show quote history

They're keeping on boys who did less well in their GCSEs with no threats relating to performance.

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 27/08/2023 21:42

The school contract should lay out the circumstances under which a pupil can be asked to leave. Poor academic performance can be one of those. So yes, he could be asked to leave if he doesn't meet the required standards.

A state school (UK) cannot ask a pupil to leave on academic (or attendance) grounds.

DisquietintheRanks · 27/08/2023 21:43

TicTacNicNak · 27/08/2023 21:28

There's a grammar school near me that selects it's 6th form intake by reference to ability.

All 6th forms do this. The point is, they're not supposed (legally allowed) to chuck you out part way through your A levels just because it becomes apparent you are destined for a low grade.

cansu · 27/08/2023 21:43

You don't seem sure what you want tbh.

RampantIvy · 27/08/2023 21:43

Pupils get "managed out" of state 6th forms as well. DD's school specified that all pupils needed a minimum of DDD at the end of year 12 to progress to year 13.

unlikelychump · 27/08/2023 21:44

What law are you thinking of?

Lots of posts today about the "laws" which apply to private schools.

Hellocatshome · 27/08/2023 21:45

Oxfordplus · 27/08/2023 21:41

They're keeping on boys who did less well in their GCSEs with no threats relating to performance.

Show quote history

Because they can do what you like and if your face fits or your parents have some sort of influence financial or otherwise you can stay. Private schools don't have to be fair.

Original poster
Oxfordplus · 27/08/2023 21:45

PatriciaHolm · 27/08/2023 21:42

The school contract should lay out the circumstances under which a pupil can be asked to leave. Poor academic performance can be one of those. So yes, he could be asked to leave if he doesn't meet the required standards.

A state school (UK) cannot ask a pupil to leave on academic (or attendance) grounds.

I get that but he got eight GCSE and five were A grades. He's not exactly scraping along the bottom.

OP posts:
Hercisback · 27/08/2023 21:46

Then why are the school giving him a performance contract?

What GCSES did he do to get As?