How to officially leave school?

[Mud]

I had this idea that we should immediately front up and say goodbye to school, we're home learning now, and make sure I say nice things to the teacher so she doesn't take it personally. Then I realised this is really not a sensible priority.

I figure we will have to go in soon and give stuff back and get stuff and probably fill out forms, and if we're going to try continuing with the weekly before school language classes on the premises we won't be able to say we're moving states or something.

Does anyone know about the formalities of leaving a school? What are your obligations?

[Ceres]

All you need to do is let them know you're withdrawing your child/ren from the school, and that you're homeschooling. You could just write a very brief letter to the principal.

[~*heket*~]

From my own experience, I wish I'd lied to them and told them I was actually going on a holiday, or moving state or something like that. They might still have hounded me but it might have bought me some more time. It was pretty awful to be de-schooling and being chased by the authorities.

[jikki]

When I pulled DD out of school (then 8), I told the school beforehand what our plans were. The principal and teacher were lovely about it, the teacher even spent an hour or two sitting with me and discussing specifically how DD was doing, and what things I might like to work on with her (it didn't come across bossy or controlling - she was genuinely trying to help!) She'd homeschooled one of her own children for a time, so she understood.

The principal actually rang the HEU to confirm that I was registering my child as being homeschooled! She obviously wasn't happy for me to just disappear off the face of the earth!!

[~*heket*~]

they HOUNDED me, from phonecalls to letters, to dobbing me in to the board of studies despite the fact that I told them I was registered. They were really bloody awful, they even threatened court action against me. I wish they'd been nice :blueroll

[Ceres]

I think they took it really personally!

[~*heket*~]

well I made the mistake of telling them why we were pulling her and actually complaining about the nasty teacher. They didn't cope with that at all :blueroll If I'd be in the principal's office every day complaining about it they would have preferred that I think :lol Instead I just up and left, and then dumped my complaint. And my complaint suggested that telling girls that boys treat them like shit coz they like them, was "setting up the firm foundations for domestic violence later in life" and that telling my child she'd be in prison if she focussed on her problems (like the death of her grandmother and the stillbirth of her baby brother). I took issue at that ... maybe I'm just weird :lol

[Ayla]

Cripes, Heket. It sounds like telling them you're moving interstate might be the way to go.

[~*heket*~]

I don't know how or if it would even work, but someone's gotta try it at some stage :lol

[Mud]

I am tempted. I expect the principal will decide it's her job to contact the BOS as soon as I tell her. So I will have to get on with registering.On the other hand, my daughter isn't six for a couple of weeks, so I wonder am I safe to leave applying until then.

[Ceres]

It may vary state to state but in SA where I am from you can't register a child who is under 6 anyway.

[homebirthmum]

I decided to let the school know in person.
I took my DD with me which was not the best. I did it so she could say goodbye to her teacher (who she liked) and get her stuff back. I figured only she knew what was hers.
The bad part was the teacher decided to adress her not me! Hence I should have gone alone. she calmed down but i could see she was miffed.
They asked me for a written letter (which i never did) and i did register her pretty much straight away.
I think telling the truth is important, but how you do that is another thing.
I was actually really nervous about telling the principal, but felt it had to be done.
Good luck!

[Ceres]

How are things going now Mud?

[Mud]

I told the school and was nice about it, explaining we had decided it was the best thing for my child (I made no complaints or recriminations at all). I should have lied and said we were on a mission to Africa, or something (I had known this would be the most logical approach, but I wanted to keep it simple and honest -- don't know why). Anyway, they were not nice. Within days I had been reported to the Home School Liaison Officer (ie truancy officer) -- before my child was even six -- to make the point that I must register immediately.

I had thought maybe someone at the school would have said something like 'if you ever want to come back ...' or 'how long do you plan to homeschool?' or even 'your daughter is welcome to come and join in with X activity to keep in touch with her friends'. Ha! Silly me. The attitude was that they wanted us out of there as quickly as possible and certainly did not want to see us on the premises again. I suppose we might infect others with our craziness! I'm happy to keep well away from the place.

Learning out of school is such a delight. Just a few hoops to jump through: we have our inspection in about 10 days.

[Ceres]

Oh dear. I guess once they're "in the system" the truancy offer gets involved. What a pain. It says a lot about the school that they were so quick to slam the door in your face on the way out.

[Janet]

Personally I'm really glad you and your wee ones are out of the system and free to play with my wee ones. ;) Seriously though I'm truly sorry for the ridiculous pressure put on you. Institutions behave way outside their scope IMO. Most inappropriate.

[Lurah]

This is an old thread but instead of starting a new one, I thought I would add onto this one.

I am about THIS close to pulling my son out. My concern is, do I need to get him registered for homeschooling first before telling the school where they can shove it?

[Anisoptera]

I have no experience with pulling kids out of school, but when we decided to withdraw from playgroup & decline the offer of a place at kindy (same school) we just sent a letter thanking them for the opportunities & telling them we no longer required a place to be held for our daughter.
No mention of homeschooling, just told them we were withdrawing.

Based on the experiences in this thread, I'd just tell them you're canceling his enrollment, surely they don't need an explanation?

[JKay]

I think it might depend on the school/state whether they are likely to make much of a fuss or not. I know people in NSW have come up against it, and have been told they have to registered, or at least have applied to register, before pulling their kids out of school. Maybe as long as you start your application and it is going in, then it'll all be fine. Good luck!

[Lurah]

I am in NSW and he is in final year of primary school.

[Beatrice]

I think you have to apply first before you withdraw, in NSW?

[Lurah]

Bummer.

[Beatrice]

I know :kotc Get hold of the local homeschooling body in your state and I'm sure they'll be able to advise you precisely what your legal position is.

[Lurah]

Bummer.

[irishwillow]

I dunno' but I've pulled my kids out of school twice and never done anything but tell them I'm doing it...Queensland tho'...I do think it's about whether someone is inclined to report you or not...in over 6 years I've never had any trouble and my eldest is year 10 next year....small country town too. ;-)

[DawnRiser]

As you are in NSW, have a read of the documentation at the Board of Studies website here:
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/parents/home-schooling.html
As long as you have filled in and sent off the Application for Initial Registration for Home Schooling, then you have begun the process.
Good luck with your decision to pull out your son - or to leave him where he is.

[Lurah]

So as long as I fax off the Application, can I then pull him out?

I am just reading this and by the sounds of it, he HAS to stay in school under I get registration recommendation:


If your child is currently enrolled in a school you should inform the principal that you have been recommended for registration for home schooling. Your child must remain at school until the certificate of registration is received

So there is three months, another whole term.

[JKay]

Ugh, it does sound like that. Can you call the BOS and ask specifically?

[DawnRiser]

I know people who have gone through the process in a lot shorter time than three months. Sometimes just a couple of weeks...

If it was my child who was under particular duress and it was in his/her best interests eg for health, emotional etc reasons, I'd do it right now, especially if I could get supporting documentation from my doctor or some other "authoritative" figure. ;-)

Also, as there is just over one week till the end of term in NSW, and then there are 2 weeks of school holidays, you have some time before people could reasonably start asking questions too...

[Kris]

What she said ^^^^ plus getting a letter from a medical type person supporting his withdrawal from school... good luck, I'm more than happy to go in to bat for you :glomp