School
You have a legal right to education, and 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 to speak to one of the teachers. They may be able to help you. You can also ask to be referred to a counsellor. If the problems you are having means 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".
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 anticipated 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.
Once you have reached school leaving age, if you feel that you have had difficulties or if you are just curious, you may be interested to know that you can ask to see your school records. Make the request in writing to the local authority.
You also have a legal duty to go to school. This means that if you miss a lot of school and don’t have a good reason, then you can be referred to the Children’s Reporter. Click on Children’s Hearings for more information.
