Reduced timetable in year 10/dropping subjects

[BettyBo33]

DS is in year 10. His behaviour has been on the decline for two years but he has never done anything ‘bad’ enough to warrant being excluded. However, school has had enough. It is constant, and everyone seems to be against him and vice versa.He simply does not enjoy school. He doesn’t want to be be there, and despite the many conversations we have (we have a good relationship) he just can’t seem to handle a full day without getting in trouble. He gets easily distracted, and distracts others in turn. He argues with the teachers and produces little to no work. I really want him to stay where he is until at the end of year 11. He admits that it wouldn’t matter where he was he just can’t comply for long enough to see him through a school day. I have asked school to consider a reduced timetable. Cutting back one or two subjects so he can have more revision time in order to pass the core subjects (he’s not on track to pass any) He does go to school, but sometimes goes in late if I don’t keep On him. He spends a lot of time in isolation, but does his work when he is away from others.I was wondering if anyone was in a similar position it had experience of this? I don’t think his school (mixed academy) is keen but surely it’s better he passes a few than none at all?

I would ask for a meeting and see if they would consider an alternative provision for him? Somewhere he could still do core subjects and maybe something more practical/vocational as well? They usually have smaller classes etc? I work in a school and kids that are disruptive are usually placed in an alternative provision and generally do well, and better than if they had stayed in main school

Does he have any SEN or learning issues? Can he explain why he doesn't want to engage with anything at school? I agree with you I think it would be good to concentrate on the core subjects and hope for some passes in them as that will help him as he goes onwards through his life. I guess the problem for the school is what they do with him in those lessons that he drops. He would need to be in some kind of supervised environment.

It must be a hard situation for you. I don't really have a huge amount of advice but I hope that you are able to find some way for him to get the gcses he needs to move on and make a fresh start.

Has he been assessed to make sure that he is not having any learning difficulties or other issues which may explain how he is acting out at school, or achieve academically?

If he has had input regarding these things and you cannot find a cause, then I agree with others that another meeting with school might be in order to see if there is anything more that they can do to hopefully enable him to at least focus on the core subjects.

Is this an issue with him exclusively in his class, or is he in a group with others doing the same thing?