A 12-year-old boy hasn't been to school in over a year after he was kicked out.
Riley Roberts was expelled from Haywood Academy, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, because of 'behavioural issues' which previously resulted in multiple warnings and temporary expulsions. Despite this, mum Katey Cowans and step-dad Dan Walker, both 31, argue that Riley needs more one-to-one support in lessons - something they claim the academy can't provide.
While Riley has been left without a school for an entire year, medical tests have concluded that he doesn't have ADHD. Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is being urged to find a school suitable for Riley, StokeonTrent Live reports.
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"He was always wanting attention and pushing teachers to the limit," Dan said. "They couldn't handle him.
"My partner was constantly called in to talk about his behaviour. Their answer appeared to be to always exclude him - and that didn’t help his behaviour.
“They recognised straight away that mainstream school isn’t for him but nothing was done about it. Due to his behaviour, and how he was, I was expecting it.
“I have always said that he needs one-to-one work and a special school. It’s a joke and this should have been dealt with by now but no-one is doing anything.
“There should have been a school board review where we sat down and talked about what’s best for Riley. This should have been done last year when he was expelled.”
He added: "I am convinced that he has got something. I’ve been giving him work at home and sometimes he kicks off, he is a troubled child.
“We waited eight months for a tutor to come out and they only spend an hour a day with him which is pointless. He is very immature and needs to be around people his age. He is not growing up as he is spending a lot of time with his younger brother.
“He needs to go back to school and be around people again. If he puts his head to it then he can do it.
“They can fine me for keeping him off school for a week - but they can keep him off for a year. I think it’s disgusting.
“He is always fidgeting and never sitting down in class. He needs to be in another place where it is more one-to-one with him.
“He struggles to understand so if you give him something to read he can’t understand it. They keep palming him off in mainstream schools.”
Councillor Janine Bridges, cabinet member for education, said: “We want all young people in the city to have the best possible start in life, the best education and the best life chances. We are aware of this situation and have been working with the family to help support Riley so he can re-engage with education.”
However, Haywood Academy has continued to defend its decision to expel Riley.
A school spokesman said: "We can confirm that, in the few weeks that this young person was physically on site at the academy, all agencies and support services were engaged with which far exceeded the limits of the support plan that accompanied him. There are no records of parents not being satisfied by the extensive support offered to this young person. Indeed since the final incident which led to the young person no longer being able to attend, academy staff have remained in contact with the family and the agencies to support further."
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