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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 he has aspergers the school should KNOW not to confront him in the way you describe. It is obvious this school has had no guidance at all on supporting children on the spectrum.

    Have a look at the school's website, there surely is one, and see if they say anything about support for pupils with disability. You may find they mention Sp L D or dyslexia if that.

    It is all very well advocating mainstream schools for people on the spectrum, it has to be backed up with something convincingly appraised about disability needs and entitlements. This sounds like a school worried more about league table performances than helping children learn.

    How many children refuse to comply at some time or other? Do they all get this reaction from this school? I suspect they don't want to make any committment to support a child on the spectrum and are being as unreasonable as possible to make it necessary for you to take your child away - in the employment market it would be constructive dismissal.

    Get everything down on paper, imnvolve your local councillors (if they are any good) and get whatever parents group or local NAS group to support you. This school is clearly failing to take any account of disability. My guess is, like so many Scottish fee paying schools, it is ducking the issue.

    Who says Scottish education is better? It wasn't true 40 years ago and it sure isn't now. As a Scot nowadays living in England I am doubtful about independence because a lot of Scottish institutions seem to me immature and insufficiently accountable.

Reply

  • If he has aspergers the school should KNOW not to confront him in the way you describe. It is obvious this school has had no guidance at all on supporting children on the spectrum.

    Have a look at the school's website, there surely is one, and see if they say anything about support for pupils with disability. You may find they mention Sp L D or dyslexia if that.

    It is all very well advocating mainstream schools for people on the spectrum, it has to be backed up with something convincingly appraised about disability needs and entitlements. This sounds like a school worried more about league table performances than helping children learn.

    How many children refuse to comply at some time or other? Do they all get this reaction from this school? I suspect they don't want to make any committment to support a child on the spectrum and are being as unreasonable as possible to make it necessary for you to take your child away - in the employment market it would be constructive dismissal.

    Get everything down on paper, imnvolve your local councillors (if they are any good) and get whatever parents group or local NAS group to support you. This school is clearly failing to take any account of disability. My guess is, like so many Scottish fee paying schools, it is ducking the issue.

    Who says Scottish education is better? It wasn't true 40 years ago and it sure isn't now. As a Scot nowadays living in England I am doubtful about independence because a lot of Scottish institutions seem to me immature and insufficiently accountable.

Children
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