Parents get final word on pupil’s school life

Parents are to be given a much stronger say in the final years of their children’s education with an experiment across the country that will take much of the choice out of the hands of head teachers.

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At present, 14-15 year-olds coming to the end of 3ème in collège face their orientation where it is decided if they will go on to lycée, opt for other courses and other professional or general qualifications or leave school at 16.
Until now, the advice of the conseil de classe, teachers and parents, as well as the youngster’s marks in the diplôme national du brevet, were used by the head teacher to decide whether the pupil should carry on studying: either in seconde générale et technologique, a first year of brevet d’études professionnelles (BEP), a three-year Bac Pro or the first year of certificat d’aptitude professionnelle.

Now, an experiment in more than 550 collèges in 20 education authorities will see parents get the final say.

If they reject the views of the conseil de classe a meeting is organised with the head teacher, principal teacher, parents and the youngster to talk through how the conseil has reached its decision and to set up a consultation with a careers advisor/psychologist.

If the family still rejects the decision then the head teacher will follow their wishes.

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