17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo pupil

[Gbjbazga]

My 17 year old son has an it apprenticeship at a school

He is facing a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct for meeting a 17 year old school pupil and having an alleged relationship.

In reality, yes he had 2 dates with this girl, who moved in the same circles as he did and hed known of her since they were about 12.

Accept he is guilty. But wondering how he stands handing his notice in. He was put on disciplinary about a month ago and his hearing is in 2 weeks.

Advice please, we are both very stressed.

[ostell]

Re: 17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo p

Is he teaching the pupils or just employed in an equipment support role?

[Gbjbazga]

Re: 17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo p

He does not teach. He's based in an it department

[ostell]

Re: 17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo p

So it's not a teacher/pupil relationship. So the school are over reacting and treating this as if he was a teacher. Do the girl's parents know that they are "seeing" each other and they jave no problem with it? If they do not disaprove then perhpas a letterr ffrom them saying they know about the situation and have no problems with it.

[Gbjbazga]

Re: 17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo p

So it's not a teacher/pupil relationship. So the school are over reacting and treating this as if he was a teacher. Do the girl's parents know that they are "seeing" each other and they jave no problem with it? If they do not disaprove then perhpas a letterr ffrom them saying they know about the situation and have no problems with it.

Yes I think the school is over reacting. But rules is rukes, and they take safeguarding issues very seriously. I think we are going to hand his notice in as I can't cope with the stress. And don't want him sacked for gross misconduct

[Amethyst]

Re: 17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo p

The school will have a code of conduct which covers all staff - teaching and non- teaching staff and this will be covered in there. The relationship hasn’t continued beyond a couple of dates ? His apprenticeship is important - presumably he’s more interested in the IT side rather than working in education in the future? Be terrible shame if he loses his training - is he employed on the apprenticeship directly by the school or a third party company?

I appreciate it is stressful - has he had any pre warning that it might be considered gross misconduct or might he get a warning ( any clues how similar situations might previously have been dealt with ?)

Does he have someone to accompany him to the disciplinary meeting ?

Tagging [MENTION=51026]Ula[/MENTION]

[ULA]

Re: 17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo p

I do not have specific school environment HR issues however that aside safeguarding would be taken very seriously including any relationships between staff whether they are teachers or not. I assume there is a policy covering this area and if so was it made very clear to him that even though he was not a member of teaching staff it would apply to him?

It would be useful to get an answer to @ Amethyst's post on whether he is employed on the apprenticeship directly by the school or a third party company, because if the latter I would suggest that he contact them to see if his apprenticeship can be assigned elsewhere.

In terms of the disciplinary process it doe seems to be taking a long time from notification to disciplinary meeting. Has he been given a formal letter regarding the meeting, advised of his right to be accompanied etc?

[paulajayne]

Re: 17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo p

. I think we are going to hand his notice in as I can't cope with the stress.

Whose apprenticeship is this?
WE??
You can't cope.??

It is his decision not yours.

Sorry to be harsh, but let him decide.

[beaconsman]

Re: 17yo school IT Apprentice facing disciplinary hearing re relationship with 17yo p

I am a senior Technician at a large school. I do not stay in any classrooms where there are any students in regardless of their sex. It is about safeguarding myself against any situations or alleged situations. It is regardless wether he is not a teacher and just support staff. The same rules apply as he is a member of staff and would have signed up to their code of conduct.

[beaconsman]

i have no idea what the relevance of that post is Stor, I was told not to be in the same room with A level female students unless another teacher was present, or member of staff to have a witness whislt carrying out my duties and also to prevent false allegations of misconduct. I have now left the school anyway as it just was too far and I got severly injured in a motorcycle accident. Just as well as i wasnt happy there. lazy teachers!