Deregistering my son from school

[frustrated11]

I wish to de register my son from school. I know the lea allocates money to the school for his education. Does anybody know if i can ask that this money be transferred to another education provider. I am interested in key stage 4 alternative or a technical college. But the school only appear interested in sending the odd piece of homework. He has not been to school for approx 9 months due to bullying. He is 16 but not of leaving age until next june.

[Catso]

The school will get a set sum from the LEA, an amount per child. I think this is paid annually, based upon the roll on a given date.

So if you move your son before that date, the school he goes to will get the whole year's allowance, the school he left will get nothing.

You can't get it as cash, nor arrange for it to be explicitly transferred.

BTW, this 'allowance' is merely a notional one, to enable the school to budget. The school doesn't get a large cheque.

[Lonnie]

We withdrew our daughter from school, admittedly she is special needs, but the same criteria applies, As Catso has said, you won't get anything, BUT, there are cases where the parents have got something, although it is rare.

You would first have to take both the school and the lea to a Tibunal, for that you would need an advocate from I.P.SE.A, 'Independant Panel for Special Education Advice', they would advise on the best course of action, If I.P.S.E.A, is not the right ones, they'll point you in the right direction.

But it is very rare they would award you financially.

[frustrated11]

Hi thanks for your replies. I dont actually want the money myself. what i would like to do with it is hav eit transferred to another provider so that my son can attend a vocational course which he has shown a large interest in. thanks again.

[Mrs_Pegasus]

I am a bursar in a secondary school and the funding streams are quite complicated. Its a case of you win some and you lose some. One of the key funds for the school is based on the PLASC return in January, this is then used to calculate the budget share for April and will not alter if you lose or gain children. It would be an administration nightmare and would make an already hard job of budgeting even harder. You would be surprised at the amount of pupil movement in and out of schools. Its like gaining 10 children the day after the PLASC, you cant refuse them based on funding you just hope they will be on roll come the following year.

I wouldnt waste your energies on this but concentrate on getting your child the education he is entitled to. Why didnt you move schools when this first happened?

[frustrated11]

Thank you Mrs Pegasus. the reason i didnt move him initially is that he didnt want to move schools despite him struggling. Now he wont go at all. How do i go about moving him to a vocational course which he shows a lot of interest in when the school doesn't want to contribute. This is where i am stuck they have offered him one piece of home work in 9 mths irrespective of how many times i contact them. Its like they do not care as he is in his last year.

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Speak to the LEA. I am surprised they havent been in touch and monitoring this situation.

What have they said? You should have had interviews and meetings with them.

[benjiesmum]

The school should have a budget set aside for students like your son so that he can enrol on an alternative learning programme. In some LAs the contact is via their office or through Compass which organises work placements for students like your son. In some schools there is a small amount set aside to pay for students to attend their local post-16 college and participate in a vocational course. Alternatively, contact your local Connexions adviser who should have his/her finger on the pulse of what is on offer for him and at KS4 there should be a number of alternatives to mainstream GCSE education. The school does have a duty to provide something. But' you wouldn't get a cash refund - imagine the chaos if everyone did that!!!