Policy Overreach

In a previous post, we covered the issue of school trip payments being withheld after a child was excluded due to behaviour - a clause that effectively says: “Suspension = no trip, no refund.” We covered why that’s likely unlawful under consumer protection law , and how schools are not above the Consumer Rights Act 2015 simply because they call something “policy.” But that’s only one part of the problem. Because in my case - and I suspect in many others - the punishment didn’t stop with the suspension. And it didn’t stop with the trip. The School’s Own Words: “The Suspension Was the Disciplinary Sanction and Is Concluded” That sentence comes directly from a written response I received after raising a complaint, shown below. The school confirm - clearly - that my child’s suspension had been dealt with. The sanction had been issued, served, and completed. By any reasonable standard, that should be the end of the matter. But it wasn’t. Shortly after, I was told that my child...