School
Every child has a legal right to a free education and your parents or guardians have a legal responsibility make sure you get an education, usually by sending you to school. If you don't go to school and don’t have a good reason, you can be referred to the Children’s Reporter. Click on "Children’s Hearings" for more information.
For most people, being at school is for many young people is a happy and useful experience. Sadly, this is not always the case. Some young people have a very difficult time at school - not necessarily from an academic point of view but from an emotional and social point.
If you are having problems at school, try speaking to one of your teachers. They may be able to help you. You can also ask to be referred to a counsellor. If the problems you are having mean that there is a possibility that you might be excluded or expelled from the school, it is important to know that you can appeal against exclusion (suspension/expulsion). If you are put out of school for any reason, you still have a right to an education and you (and your parents, if they support you) should think about appealing. A solicitor can help you with an appeal - see "solicitors". If an appeal is not made or is unsuccessful, the local authority still has a duty to provide other suitable means of education.
Your parents can also make a "placing request", asking that you be allowed to go to a particular school. You can't do this, but it is generally accepted that your parents will ask your opinion about major decisions affecting your life. A move to a new school is a major decision, so ask your parents to talk to you about this.
Some schools want the pupils to wear uniforms, or at least clothes of a particular type or colour e.g. dark coloured skirts/trousers or sweatshirts. State schools can't insist legally that pupils wear uniforms in school, but outrageous clothing could be banned by the school, since it could disrupt the smooth running of the school.
The parents or guardians of a child can request to see the child's school records. These are held by the local authority but obtained on the parents' behalf by the school. These records contain relevant information including the progress of the child, his or her health, and the dates and scores of any tests taken. When a child has reached the age of 12, he or she also has the right to see his or her educational records.
