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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

  • Hi MulgaBill

    Sorry for coming to this late.

    I've done science A-levels, a science degree, and several years of work in research labs despite being Aspie.  And I think that being Aspie made me safer in the lab if anything.

    I'd try asking to see the specific risk assessments that were carried out for the lessons that your son has been excluded from, and that found his presence would pose an unacceptable risk to others or himself.  Employers have to "assess the risks to the health and safety of employees and others who may be affected by their activities".  Generally I think that written risk assessments are expected, especially for large organizations.  If your son was found to be too much of a risk to himself/others, that should have been recorded in the risk assessment.  If they haven't got this in their risk assessment (or they don't have an assessment) then it may be easier to challenge them on why he's been excluded from the lessons.  If they have then you can at least see what the reasons they have given are, and know what you are up against.

    The HSE have also published guidelines on H & S matters for SEN students (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/edis3.pdf) which emphasizes that maintaining safety should not be used as an excuse to deny SEN/disabled students educational opportunities.  It also mentions generic and specific risk assessments.  If they thought your son was a risk perhaps they should have carried out a specific risk assessment for him and looked at whether there were any reasonable adjustments that they could make to manage the risk?  Again, if they haven't, you can ask why.  The guidance also states that "Effective management of health and safety considerations for disabled students and students with SEN should allow them maximum opportunities in their education."  So they should be looking to manage safety effectively so that he can be involved as much as possible, and not just banning him outright.  I don't know if this would be something useful to confront the school with if you think that H & S is being used as an excuse or being inappropriately managed.

    The HSE also has a "mythbusters" panel to try to counter the incorrect use of "Health and Safety" as an excuse.  It may be worth contacting them.

    Can I also ask what age S2 corresponds to and whether the ban on him being in science lessons is generic or only for certain practicals?  Some of our science practicals, even at GCSE level only, involved sugar, water, poratoes, yeast etc.  They'd have a real job to provide a reasoned justification for barring him from all science practicals, let alone all science lessons, on H & S grounds.

    I hope that that's been of some help.  I hope that things get easier for you both soon; I know how difficult school years can be.

Reply

  • Hi MulgaBill

    Sorry for coming to this late.

    I've done science A-levels, a science degree, and several years of work in research labs despite being Aspie.  And I think that being Aspie made me safer in the lab if anything.

    I'd try asking to see the specific risk assessments that were carried out for the lessons that your son has been excluded from, and that found his presence would pose an unacceptable risk to others or himself.  Employers have to "assess the risks to the health and safety of employees and others who may be affected by their activities".  Generally I think that written risk assessments are expected, especially for large organizations.  If your son was found to be too much of a risk to himself/others, that should have been recorded in the risk assessment.  If they haven't got this in their risk assessment (or they don't have an assessment) then it may be easier to challenge them on why he's been excluded from the lessons.  If they have then you can at least see what the reasons they have given are, and know what you are up against.

    The HSE have also published guidelines on H & S matters for SEN students (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/edis3.pdf) which emphasizes that maintaining safety should not be used as an excuse to deny SEN/disabled students educational opportunities.  It also mentions generic and specific risk assessments.  If they thought your son was a risk perhaps they should have carried out a specific risk assessment for him and looked at whether there were any reasonable adjustments that they could make to manage the risk?  Again, if they haven't, you can ask why.  The guidance also states that "Effective management of health and safety considerations for disabled students and students with SEN should allow them maximum opportunities in their education."  So they should be looking to manage safety effectively so that he can be involved as much as possible, and not just banning him outright.  I don't know if this would be something useful to confront the school with if you think that H & S is being used as an excuse or being inappropriately managed.

    The HSE also has a "mythbusters" panel to try to counter the incorrect use of "Health and Safety" as an excuse.  It may be worth contacting them.

    Can I also ask what age S2 corresponds to and whether the ban on him being in science lessons is generic or only for certain practicals?  Some of our science practicals, even at GCSE level only, involved sugar, water, poratoes, yeast etc.  They'd have a real job to provide a reasoned justification for barring him from all science practicals, let alone all science lessons, on H & S grounds.

    I hope that that's been of some help.  I hope that things get easier for you both soon; I know how difficult school years can be.

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