Well I have to agree with him to be honest, a lot of school work is boring and if he's a bright kid then he'll find it even more so. If he's paricularly bright then he'll have little in common with his peer group so will find school a real ordeal. Try speaking with his teachers and seeing if they won't support you in having him set some more interesting work instead of or alongside his usual work, and pitch it to him as if he's being rewarded by doing a special project rather than punished by being given more work. I'm afraid to a large extent you are in the lap of the Gods with how good the school is to be honest and how hepful they want to be. Some are great and some just want to blame his homelife/ parents etc for everything. Just try to make sure he is given things he can be successful at and try to work his self esteem up, which in turn will make him more motivated and happy in his everyday life. It's a very difficult situation you are in and I wish you all the luck in the world.