Found new information re previous school

[witsend]

Hi - wasn't sure wether to post this in education but am sure it will be shifted if needs be. Just wondered what any of you think of this it's a bit of a weird one, will try to be succinct although it is a bit of a long story.

Basicall when ds 1 started high school he attended a private specialist dyslexia school, we looked round the school and they assured us they also specialised in teaching children with ASD's/dyspraxia etc. They sounded very impressive when we visited but almost form week one ds 1 hated the school (I posted a lot about him changing schools on here a few weeks ago). He complained about the behaviour of the other pupils, basically they were very verbally abusive to the teachers and to him they were very disruptive and never seemingly 'disciplined' and ds 1 continually complained of being bullied physically. At first I took it with a pinch of salt thinking it was him getting things out of perspective and just not liking the change .

However it went on and on and got worse.

When we approached the school they totally denied any problems and said ds 1 was probably making it up for attention , this seemed really unlikely to me but I accepted it for a while.

Anyway things went from bad to worse - we had a meeting with the school where the head was hostile and defensive and denied any problems again, however when she left the meeting for half an hour one of the other staff present admitted the behaviour ds 1 had described did indeed go on!! He explained a lot of the children were on medication and often they had difficulties getting the dose right etc, I said I understood that but we had been assured initially that this was not an EBD school and that challenging behaviours were not a problem or else we wouldn't have sent ds 1 there as he is compliant at school. When we went to look round the school and asked about challenging type behviours the head tole us "we don't have table turners here"!!! ) I know warning bells should have rung then eh?)

Anyway to cut a long story short we had emergency review meeting and agreed with LEA to move ds 1, as this was going on he stopped going to school and was really down. It was a terrible time, all through it the school did not try and contact us or talk about things they became very hostile. His class teacher confiscated a game from ds 1 and did not return it for 6 weeks (saying she couldn't find it) when I sent notes in she would just send snidey ones back. And when I rang her about it she used it as an opportunity to launch a tirade about how I was going to damage my son taking him away from the school etc etc!!!

During one meeting the head told us only one other child had ever been unhappy at the school and he "ended up in a resedential school - not something you'd really want for your child" (Her words!)

Sorry am rambling on a bit, the point really now is that ds 1 is happy in his new school (a small private mainstream school which is just round the corner from the old one) and this weekend he went for a slepover with a new freinf from the school. When I dropped him off I had a long chat with this childs mum and ended up telling her a bit about our experiance at the last school and guess what? She told me there is another boy in sons class who also previously attended that school and they had exactly the same problems as us (if not worse) this childs father was a teacher and had benn enraged by the treatment of his child and again the school would not admit to the problems, when the father went to the school to complain they ordered him off the premises!! Needless to say they took there son out of the school!

So here I am reflecting on all this, I was scared to make to much fuss when son was at this school for fear of making things worse, by the time he refused to go I was so worn down and upset I couldn't face speaking to the school and then when he left and like his new school I was so releived I just wanted to put the past behind us and forget about it.

But now having heard all this I am feeling really angry that the school are getting away with treating kids like this, and dread to think how many others it may have happened to. The parents at the school never see each other becasue the kids all come from a wide catchment area and all arrive and leave by taxi. I actually find it quite sinister. Ds 1 has also told me some other stuff since he left the school which is worrying.

What should I do, it's really preying on my mind, I know it won't help to ring the school and I don't know wether or how to make a complaint about it all, do you think too much time has passed (he left the school not long after easter). I just cant stand the thought of more parents desperate to find the right place for their kids being taken in by the lies the school tell. I also feel especially angry with ds s class teacher who was so horrible to me when I rnag up that time, telling me it would be a disaster to move my son and he would be damaged forever in a mainstream school, like I didn't have enough angst at the time!!

Sorry I really am rambling now, as you can tell it's really got to me, do you think I'm over reacting? And would you make a complaint if so how?

Thanks if you've read this far

Luv Witsend.

[llisa32]

Hiya, Glad he's now happy at the new school...it's awful when they hate school so much I know.

 

I think as you've tried talking to the school you could maybe try voicing a complaint with Ofsted...

 

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Inter...0003507640aRCRD

 

The link above if it works takes you into the advice on their website about how to make a complaint.

 

Maybe try and look up the last Ofsted report too??

 

You have nothing to lose and may save someone else going through same rough time

[Flora]

I don't know the answer to this one witsend, it's a toughy! On the one hand you are relieved that your son no longer goes there and he's now happy, but on the other hand you're wondering how many other families are going to go through the same bad experience.

 

I had a similar(ish) experience with a small private mainstream school when we first moved down south. My boys were there for 6 weeks before I took them out (long story won't go into it).... the HT tried to get a full terms fees off us for not giving notice and I refused; she had a lawyer look at the whole story and oddly enough they decided not to persue us for the fees. 3 years later and with the knowledge I have now I realise that the school were actually in breach of the disability discrimination act... BIG TIME.

 

I have a friend whose son goes to this school and has just been dx with ADHD, and he most certainly is also is on the autistm spectrum. He's going through assessments now but my friend has had to instigate and pay for this all herself, the school aren't interested. He's been in the school from nursery age, and he's had NO extra help or assistance (he's just about to go into year 5). The school have not in any way identified any difficulties (although the private school's equivlent to OFSTED highlighted his difficulties when he was in reception and suggested the school did something to investigate the cause).... This is a tiny school, the classes have at most about 15 children in and some only about 10... so there's no excuse really.

 

Anyway, going back to your dilemma.... It's probably late in the day for you to make a formal complaint, but there's nothing stopping you lodging a letter outlining and highlighting the school's lies and short comings. I'm not sure who you should send this letter to. Maybe copy it to several people, including the LEA and the schools governing body maybe?

 

Flora X

[Alyth_mum]

I must admit it is adifficult situation but it is one that your ds may not have had to experience if other parents had complained.

Sounds as though there is a culture of silence there.

 

There was a residential unit in the newspapers a couple of months back which had to be shut down because so many members of staff were abusing the children and because the children has 'issues' if a child complsained it was 'not true' and apparently the situation went on for years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6751345.stm

 

I'm not saying the situation is as bad as that but..... if a single child can be prevented from going through this it would be worth complaining.

 

Louise

[Clare63]

Witsend,

I am not surprised all this is playing on your mind and certainly don't think you are over reacting. I too believe you should raise your concerns for the sake of other children in the future.

I am so pleased your lad is enjoying his new school and that's the way it should be.

 

Clare x x x

[Mumble]

Witsend,

 

If you want to take this further (and I would suggest that a letter at least can do no harm, particuarly as he's no longer at the school and it will put you more at ease that you have done something), a letter should be sent in the first instance to the head of communications at the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate). Here are their contact details. They do say they don't investigate specific complaints about the past, so I would make the letter quite general. If the place was funded by the LEA or if the LEA fund other pupils to attend the school, I would CC the letter to them. As for governors, the head will be part of the governing body, so that's really up to you - but if you're writing to the ISI, CC-ing to the goverors so they know that others 'know' might at least make them stop and think about what is going on.