A head teacher in the Yorkshire & the Humber region has sparked controversy after applying a work-from-home policy for up to 20 students deemed “extremely difficult.” This decision has raised concerns among staff and parents, particularly regarding the impact on student attendance and the overall learning environment.
In an email to staff, headmaster Iginio Rossi detailed the thinking behind the policy. She stressed that it would further aid with absenteeism and give colleagues some much-needed breathing room. In practice, the policy has led to some students being excluded indefinitely. This already calls into question whether it’s an effective, much less appropriate tool.
The head teacher further suggested a modified schedule for one particular student, proposing that they only attend school at 09:00 and 14:00 each day. Attendance marks will be registered at 8:15 am and at 11:15 am. This new approach, we hope, can help more equitably meet the needs of this difficult child. The head teacher’s email ignited outrage with an innocuous comment about wanting to “inconvenience” the student’s mother. Unfortunately, this statement was immediately met with derision from all quarters.
Despite this, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) did recently release a report, but redacted the name of the head teacher and of the school itself. This has ignited public discourse around the ways schools are expected to handle students who exhibit difficult or violent behaviors. Critics contend that just sending students home doesn’t deal with the root causes of misbehavior and could put them further behind in their education.
TRA report, reflecting a national tide towards increasing concern over how institutions police and conduct needlessly invasive searches of pupil behavior and create an inclusive environment. Discharging students raises a number of critical questions. We need to strike the right balance between ensuring a welcoming and inclusive learning environment while meeting the needs of all students.
