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Barred from Science (Health & Safety reasons)

MulgaBill

Our oldest boy (he's an Aspie) has just moved up to S2 (we're in Scotland) and, as well as all the usual turmoil involved in changing classes, he came home today to tell me that "I was locked out of Science". When I asked what had happened, he said his new science teacher had shut the classroom door in his face and locked it. He didn't know what was happening, so he stood outside the classroom until his guidance teacher eventually showed up. She told him that he wasn't allowed to do science for "health and safety reasons", and he'd have to spend science classes doing "other things" in the special needs area. It's ludicrous as science was his best subject in S1 and the teacher he had throughout never had a safety issue with him.

Has anyone managed to challenge a decision like this? And how?

BTW, I'm on my fourth letter to the school in 10 days to the school, copied to the QIO and Head of Education, not that they ever reply or take any notice. Yesterday's letter was about our boy being kept out of all his classes for an entire day, so he played computer games and watched videos in the special needs area. He doesn't know why and no one from the SMT was available to explain why. (He was quite happy to have a "day off", but I'm not.)

Parents

  • If I can add several more points.

    Although I taught in HE, and in environmental science rather than physics and chemistry, I have taught in classrooms using simple science and sensitive instrumentation. I've taught the use of geology microscopes to four students on the spectrum, with no difficulty other than one of them not seeing the point. I've had more worries with the otherwise typical show off students breaking things to get attention from their fellows. The AS ones were generally more receptive and more responsible.

    Although I cannot comment on the current Scottish situation I was educated in Scotland up to first degree level. I have kept an eye on progress since from a remote perspective.

    What puzzles me is the number of schools in Scotland such as day attendance fee paying schools and other "fancy" ones is they don't seem to feel the need to go much further than crude provision for dyslexia. Of course parents with children with any disabilities may feel the fees for no special provision enough to stop them placing their children there, so that seems to perpetuate the gross failure to provide.

    Thirdly I have to say I think this is one of those occurrences that needs media support (however unpredictable and unreliable that can be) because I think the school's attitude to your son is deplorable. 

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  • If I can add several more points.

    Although I taught in HE, and in environmental science rather than physics and chemistry, I have taught in classrooms using simple science and sensitive instrumentation. I've taught the use of geology microscopes to four students on the spectrum, with no difficulty other than one of them not seeing the point. I've had more worries with the otherwise typical show off students breaking things to get attention from their fellows. The AS ones were generally more receptive and more responsible.

    Although I cannot comment on the current Scottish situation I was educated in Scotland up to first degree level. I have kept an eye on progress since from a remote perspective.

    What puzzles me is the number of schools in Scotland such as day attendance fee paying schools and other "fancy" ones is they don't seem to feel the need to go much further than crude provision for dyslexia. Of course parents with children with any disabilities may feel the fees for no special provision enough to stop them placing their children there, so that seems to perpetuate the gross failure to provide.

    Thirdly I have to say I think this is one of those occurrences that needs media support (however unpredictable and unreliable that can be) because I think the school's attitude to your son is deplorable. 

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