Suspension, Exclusion and Expulsion

Here’s what you need to know about the processes if your child starts getting into trouble at school.  There’s a pamphlet covering the issues that I’ll summarise (I have several copies sent to me by the school, all in good order, if anyone wants one.  I doubt you really want the full legislation to wade through.)



Stand – down


Your kid’s played up, the school is sick of warning him/her.  Then the principal decides formally to remove the student from school for a specified period.  Usually it’s up to a few days.  But a student can’t get more than 5 stand-downs in a term or 10 in a year, or things start getting a bit more serious.  As in:



Suspension

Your kid is removed from school and the Board of Trustees gets to decide how to proceed: from lifting the suspension, to having your kid excluded or expelled.  (You really should vote in the board elections, they have some heavy responsibilities and you might want to know who each of the Trustees are.)



Exclusion

This is if your kid is under 16.  They have to leave school but also have to enrol at another school, and the principal may help with arrangements to do so, or, 



Expulsion 

If your kid is over 16, they are kicked out and can enrol at another school if they want to.  The Ministry of Education can be asked to help find another school the student can attend.With all of these actions, the principles of natural justice must be followed. So, an action must be justified, and you do have the right to appear before the Board and provide any information you think is relevant to the Board in making its decision.  The student can appear also.  The Board has to make its decision independent of the Principal.  



Family and whānau support is encouraged and there are government services that offer assistance in this.



Conclusion 

Keep encouraging your child not to choose the hard way in life.  Tell them they have the right and freedom to make their own choices but with this comes responsibility, consequences and opportunities.  Tell them every day that you love them, and you believe in them.  If you end up needing the information above, then you’ve done all you could do at that time for your child.  Be strong.  Be there to support them through the next steps.

And sleep deeply and peacefully.