School rules and laws

OPENING the thick, posh envelope with an embossed school logo in her council house, single mum Sophie Goffin was shaking and unable to catch her breath. 

This was no ordinary mail delivery. The contents of the letter would decide whether her little girl had been offered a life-changing place at a top-ranking private school for FREE.

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Sophie says: “It was a nerve-wracking moment. I was about to learn if my daughter was going to get a free private school education.

“When I read Sienna had been offered a full bursary, I screamed with joy. I will never forget the sense of pride I felt and the huge smile on my daughter’s face.

“It was like winning the lottery. Even today, I cannot believe it happened. She’d received a private education for free.”

Sophie, who runs her own cat care business, The Purry Godmother, and lives in Uxbridge, West London, could never have afforded the £30k a year plus expenses it costs to send a child to school. 

But she believed that a private school would help support Sienna better.

Sophie said: “Sienna started reception in September 2016 at a local government school. She was extra bright and, in the first two years, hit her milestones early.

“I asked the school to give her extra work, but with large class sizes, she was held back slightly. She ended up helping other children instead of moving forward herself.

“If I didn’t act, she would have been bored and frustrated. So I focused on securing a fully funded bursary.”

Private schools, also called independent schools, are run outside government control and paid for by parents, while Grammar schools are state-funded but selective.

Applying to a private school can feel intimidating, Sophie admits, but she knew it was the right move for Sienna and so set about applying.

She added: “It can feel overwhelming, but really it’s just about proving what you earn and showing your child is the right fit.”

Sophie contacted the Independent Schools Bursars’ Association and the Boarding Schools’ Association for guidance, then checked schools’ websites to see who still had bursary places.

She says: “Most scholarships are awarded on merit and achievement. They usually mean only a small discount.

“Bursaries are the golden ticket to elite private schools. They are means-tested, with bigger awards for lower incomes. Some schools also factor in talent in music or sport.”

Finding the right setting

Sophie and Sienna visited Maltman’s Green Girls School in Gerrards Cross, which was within commuting distance for them.

The school takes girls from as young as two up to 11 and has been operating for more than 100 years.

Fees range from £3,210 a term for nursery up to over £8,000 a term, or £32,000 a year for Year 6 pupils.

Sophie says: “Sienna’s eyes lit up when we visited. It was an educational wonderland.

“The school had a pool, science labs, 3D printers, art and drama rooms, small class sizes and an amazing Special Educational Needs department. I knew she would flourish there.”

Sophie and Sienna’s father, a chef, 32, had to complete forms because the full bursary is awarded to parents with low incomes who could not normally afford to send their child to the school.

As part of the means testing, parents must provide earnings information, tax forms, and bank statements and are assessed regularly once their child receives a place.

She says: “Having all your financial information up to date is critical to your application.

“Sienna had to do a written assessment for English literature and maths, which helps the school assess her level.

“We also met with the school head, and Sienna had a chance to explain why she wanted to attend.

“Bursaries are highly competitive, and the final decision is made by a specialist committee.

“Waiting for the letter was a roller coaster. Everyone wants the best for their child. It all rests on the letter. 

“Sienna wanted to go to the school, and I knew it would change her life dramatically.”

After three months, Sophie says the confirmation letter’s arrival in March 2021 was a “game changer.”

Sienna joined the Year three class in the 2021 summer term, proudly wearing the school’s distinct straw hat and its blue and green check uniform.

Sophie added: “Within ten minutes of arriving, another girl had said hello and invited her on an afternoon play date.

“A free private education can happen. Sienna is proof that the impossible is possible, no matter what your income is.”

Sienna’s mum Sophie

“The school pushed her abilities, and she started to thrive and shine.”

Sienna’s bursary included school trips in Year 4 and Year 5, and in Year 6, an overseas trip.

Sophie says: “That even included her spending money. School meals are included, free after-school care is offered, and you receive all-round support.

“For parents like me, it’s an education we could never afford but one our children deserve.

“During her three and a half years there, Sienna got to use an amazing computer kit, do photography, use the school pool, learn about coding, AI technology and use their 3D printer.

“I was amazed at the facilities and the friends she made.

“The smaller class sizes helped her learn at an even faster rate.”

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Sienna has now finished Year 6 and is being home-educated for her secondary education, but remains in contact with all her private school pals.

Sophie said: “I had only ever dreamt of her having access to that standard of education, and when it became a reality, I had to pinch myself.

“I was also shocked at how many parents are not aware that bursaries exist or that they may be eligible.

“It has been life-changing, and it proves that it isn’t always some other family that gets the gold ticket.

“Government schools suit many people, but for Sienn,a the system wasn’t working.

“I was also stunned that many of my friends had no idea bursaries existed or that they would be eligible.

“It is possible to win a bursary place. If you don’t get one the first year, keep trying. 

“It’s the golden ticket to helping a child like Sienna learn at the speed she needs to and thrive.

“Many children do that at standard schools. I was lucky enough that Sienna secured a bursary place.

“A free private education can happen. Sienna is proof that the impossible is possible, no matter what your income is.”

A YOUNG mum has revealed the reason she never gets to school on time.

Carmen Louise, from the UK, revealed she went to great lengths to avoid playground politics and ‘DryRobe mums’.

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The mum was sat in her car, possibly waiting for her kids to come out of school.

She revealed she would wait until the last minute to get out to avoid the other parents.

Carmen said: “I am the mum that waits till the very last minute to go and pick the kids up.

“I can’t deal with people.

Claiming she ‘hated everyone,’ Carmen said she avoided mum groups as much as possible.

She continued: “I don’t like those mums that are standing in a f**king group, stuck up their own b**holes wearing DryRobes.”

Carmen also joked that they all stank in their oversized rain coats.

“I just take my car. So I don’t have to speak to people,” she added.

It seemed that the mum’s vent on clicky school mums was something many others could relate to.

The video went viral on her TikTok account @carmslouise97 with over 1 million views and 77k likes.

Plenty of people took to the comments agreeing with her statement and revealed they did the exact same thing.

One person wrote: “Omg the dry robes is TRUE.”

Another commented: “For 3 months I pretended I didn’t speak English.”

“I am the mum that pays for breakfast and afterschool club to avoid people and all those mums you speak of,” penned a third.

Meanwhile a fourth said: “It’s funny cus I wear my dry robe but also my head phones and sunglasses so nobody can approach me, I can’t see or hear you huns.”

“Same! Cannot stand playground politics,” claimed a fifth.

Someone else added: “I’ve been a school run mum for a few months now and it’s horrible.”

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A PARENT was left baffled after she was scorned by her child’s school for ‘failing snack time’.

The mum received a passive-aggressive note which accused her of breaking the “classroom policy”.

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She shared a snap of the letter and told her followers: “Day 1 of school and I’ve already failed snack time.

“Strong start, mom,” she added.

Her child had taken pretzels into class, which, according to the note, is one of three foods that are banned from school grounds.

The note read: “Your child’s snack of pretzels today did not meet our 4K classroom snack policy.

“Please make sure to send only fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese or yoghurt for their snack.

“Goldfish, popcorn and pretzels are not allowed for 4K students.

“If your child was without another snack, they were offered a classroom snack in place of this non-approved snack.

“Thank you for helping keep our 4K students safe due to severe classroom allergies.

The teacher added: “If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!”

The post was reshared by an influencer, and the identity of the parent and the school in question is currently unknown.

The controversial note sparked conversation in the comment section, with one saying: “Those snack restrictions are insane.”

“Please make a charcuterie board and send it,” joked another.

“Please send a rotisserie chicken,” said a third.

“Please send only perishable snacks so your 5yo lets it rot in their bag all day until snack time, thanks,” echoed another.

One wrote: “Good morning darling, please remember to take your snack time ribeye with you. Have a great day!”

The post was also shared on Reddit, where one person argued: “Speaking as a teacher: I hate teachers who are militant about snacks.

“So many families are just barely holding on, and you’re going to crawl up someone’s a** about food?”

Whilst many of the people who saw the post made a joke out of the situation, allergies are an incredibly serious matter.

Benedict Blythe died when he was just five years old after accidental exposure to cow’s milk protein in 2021.

Benedict had asthma and several allergies, including eggs, nuts, kiwi fruit and milk.

His parents had worked with the school to put together an allergy action plan in case of a reaction.

The school was responsible for storing oat milk in the staff fridge, which was labelled with the child’s name, and pouring it into Benedict’s cup in the classroom before handing it directly to him.

However, the jury inquest found that, on the day of his death, that process was not followed because his milk had been poured in the staff room rather than the classroom.

His parents were called to pick him up after he vomited and later “collapsed”.

Benedict was rushed to hospital but tragically couldn’t be saved and died later that day.

This year, his sister, Etta, six, took a petition to Downing Street to campaign for higher food safety regulations in schools.

She was joined by five other primary school students who took placards and the letter to Whitehall.

They called for Benedict’s Law to be implemented across the country to end the “postcode lottery” of allergy safeguards in schools.

Etta and friends joined other children affected by allergies to stand in front of No 10 and knocked on the door to hand over the petition signed by more than 13,000 people.

It comes following July’s jury inquest into Benedict’s death at Peterborough Town Hall, which found that Barnack Primary School, between Stamford and Peterborough, did not follow all the measures in place to prevent the fatal anaphylactic reaction.

It also found there were risks of contamination and delays in administering the adrenaline pen.

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TRANS teachers can ask their pupils to call them Mx instead of Mr or Mrs, the Education Secretary has said.

Bridget Phillipson said they have the right to “make that request” of them.

She told LBC: “But of course, what we’ll be looking at is making sure that people are able to exercise their views on this topic too.

“This has been the subject of various legal cases as well about people’s rights in terms of how they approach questions of gender identity.”

The prefix Mx is used by some trans people as a gender-neutral way of saying Mr or Mrs.

Ms Phillipson has also been criticised for failing to publish long-awaited trans guidance for schools after more than a year in power.

She inherited draft guidance from the Tories that said that teachers should adopt a “cautious approach” to children wanting to socially transition by living like the opposite sex.

Ms Phillipson said she wanted to take time to review the policies — but has still not produced them 13 months into the job.

Yesterday she could not say when the guidance would finally be released, despite concerned parents asking for it.

Tory Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said last night: “The guidance for schools on gender-questioning children is ready to go.

“It will give schools the clarity they need, end the confusion and help safeguard children.

“No more excuses from the Education Secretary, she just needs to get on with it.”

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A SIX-year-old boy died in his sleep after accidentally bumping his head while racing with friends at school, an inquest heard.

Mohammed Yaseen Uddin, who attended Marlborough Primary School in Small Heath, Birmingham, died on December 11 last year.

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He had been playing with pals during his lunch break the day before and accidentally bumped his head on a wall.

The youngster told a school receptionist: “I was running really fast, racing my friend and bumped into the wall.”

As reported by Birmingham Live, an inquest heard how Yaseen picked himself up and appeared to behave normally after the fall.

A paediatric school first aider applied an ice pack to a visible bump on the pupil’s forehead.

Yaseen’s mother and sister were given a letter with medical advice upon picking him up.

The inquest, held today at Birmingham Coroner’s Court, heard the youngster appeared to be acting normally after going home.

He had attended a local mosque after school and celebrated his sibling’s birthday with cake.

Later in the evening, Yaseen told his father he didn’t feel well, and he was given some Ibuprofen.

At around 11pm, the little boy complained about head pain “out of nowhere” and started to throw up.

His family were on their way to the hospital but took him back home to change after he vomited again.

The inquest heard they tried to leave again but Yaseen told them he just wanted to sleep, so they put him to bed.

Dad Simriel Uddin said he looked in on his son at 3am and again at 5am when he got up for work, both times Yaseen was asleep.

But the youngster was tragically found dead a few hours later.

Heartbroken dad Simriel Uddin previously told the Mail: “He was a bright, joyful spirit and he was a beautiful, kind-hearted little boy.

“He had a head collision in school -the school told my wife ‘Oh, your son has bumped his head.’

“When she asked if it was anything serious they said, ‘No it’s nothing serious, it’s just a bump’.”

The inquest heard how Yaseen’s brother Khalil performed CPR while waiting for an ambulance.

Paramedics rushed Yaseen to hospital at around 11am but the six-year-old was pronounced dead at 12.08pm.

Guirish Solanki, a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon, concluded Yaseen had suffered a “traumatic head injury when he struck his head on the wall.”

Yaseen’s cause of death was given as a traumatic right frontal extra-axial haemorrhage, which means a bleed outside of the brain but within the skull.

Louise Hunt, the Senior Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull said: “Yaseen was a six-year-old little boy who was normally fit and well.

“He was described as happy and engaged when he came to school, a big character, who was always bubbly.”

She confirmed Yaseen had been playing with his friends before falling at around 12.29pm.

The coroner was also satisfied the family had been given a letter outlining medical advice, despite the fact they previously disputed this.

She said: “This was a tragic accident and I record in conclusion this was an accident.

“I’d like to reiterate and offer my condolences to all the family. It must be very hard for all of you and I’m very sorry if today’s inquest has made things more difficult. I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

Speaking after the inquest, Yaseen’s sister Sumaya told BirminghamLive: “Thank you to everyone for their support.”

In a previous statement, Razia Ali, the executive headteacher at Marlborough, said: “Our school community has been left devastated by the tragic passing of one of our wonderful and much-loved pupils.

“Yaseen was an incredibly helpful, kind and caring pupil who brought a smile to the face of everyone who came across him.

“I know I speak for everyone when I say he will be deeply missed. All our thoughts and prayers are with Yaseen’s family and friends.”

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A TEACHER’S secret OnlyFans account was exposed by kids “excitedly” sharing the X-rated snaps around school.

Kirsty Buchan, also known as Jessica Jackrabbit x, was a staff member at Bannerman High School, in Glasgow, when she joined the adult platform.

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A disciplinary hearing was told the mum-of-one’s profile was discovered by pupils in 2022 and reported to headteacher Seonaidh Black.

Pictures of Ms Buchan, 34, “posing in lingerie” were handed over by shocked students.

In her bio she admitted to being a “good teacher gone bad… really bad”.

The profile was also easily accessible, requiring no payment or sign up.

Ms Black told the hearing: “I was approached by some S5 and S6 boys, who were very excited.

“They were saying things like, ‘Have you heard the news’. I said something like ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ as I did not want to engage them in this kind of conversation.

“I was then told something like, ‘If you haven’t heard, when you do, you’re going to go ballistic. Look out for Jessica Jackrabbit’.

“As I came back into the building, at least two staff stopped to ask me if I knew about Kirsty. It was obvious at this point that everyone knew what was going on.”

Ms Buchan, who had originally been a pupil at the school before teaching there, did not attend the hearing.

In her absence, the headteacher described the OnlyFans model as a “teacher who wanted to do a good job”.

However there had been several occasions when she “was not always clear on boundaries”.

She told the panel she was referring to “having poor judgement” when it came to being open about sharing her social media with pupils.

One concerned mother had even contacted Ms Black and reported how her son left messages for Ms Buchan on her OnlyFans profile.

The 34-year-old quit her job shortly after her adult content platform was discovered.

She claimed to rake in £60,000 in just one month through her X-rated page.

Ms Buchan argued she signed up because she needed some extra cash after her wages decreased.

Ms Black added how “there’s still talk” about the ordeal now.

Hannah Oakley, who investigated the case for GTCS, told the hearing Ms Buchan did not “ensure that her profile picture and bio” was not accessible to those under 18.

The panel found all allegations to be proven and she was today struck off from the profession by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).

Panel member Mr Burton said she was unfit to teach and there was a “significant blurring of boundaries between her private life and her professional life”.

He added how she “used her profession in her bio as a selling tool”.

Mr Burton said Ms Buchan’s actions were “fundamentally incompatible with being a registered teacher”.

This comes as an NHS nurse is being investigated for taking explicit snaps for an adult website while at work.

Sarah Whittall, 24, has also made sex tapes and sells her used underwear on OnlyFans.

The healthcare assistant can be seen showing off her bra and knickers under her uniform.

Her NHS hospital ID lanyard is also on display in the pictures.

Elsewhere, a civil servant has been filmed moonlighting on a porn site while giving advice over the phone to pensions claimants.

She was seen working from home helping callers at the same time as flashing to her followers live on XHamster.

Meanwhile, a nursery teacher was sacked after a pupil’s mum caught her husband subscribing to her OF account.

Elena Maraga, 29, became the centre of a scandal last month when the explicit account was discovered.

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A PRIMARY school has been evacuated after a pupil brought a grenade to show and tell.

Students at Osmaston CofE Primary School in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, were rushed off the site after the shocking discovery on Friday.

Teachers were concerned when a boy pulled out a World War Two hand grenade.

Headteacher Jeanette Hart did not know if the weapon was live or not so quickly took it and put it behind a large tree outside.

Despite not being “100 per cent happy” carrying the old bomb, she said she “didn’t want to take the risk” and leave it in the school.

The head teacher raised the alarm and Derbyshire Police arrived on the scene with army explosives experts.

Mrs Hart told the BBC: “It was quite an eventful assembly.

“It was going fine and there was a boy who brought an old bullet case in, which I knew about, but then his friend produced a hand grenade from his pocket.

“That, I was not expecting.”

Experts determined the heirloom was safe through X-ray analysis.

A spokesman for the Matlock, Cromford, Wirksworth and Darley Dale Police Safer Neighbourhood Team added: “Just a word of guidance for parents and guardians – double check what your kids are taking to show-and-tell, especially when they are family heirlooms.”

Mrs Hart the ordeal was completely “innocent” and the boy thought the grenade was “interesting” after learning about VE Day.

“His family didn’t know [he took it] and they were a little taken aback,” she added.

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Four children in every British classroom are living in hygiene poverty, according to research.

A major report has found 21 per cent of affected kids don’t play with others because they’re worried about what they might think.

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The issue affects 14 per cent of children across Great Britain in total, with 20 per cent of these going without essentials like toothpaste or deodorant, on a monthly basis.

According to A Clean Start in Life, a report delivered in partnership with Children North East, almost 350,000 children can’t always get to school due to not having a clean school uniform.

The study surveyed 1073 children aged 6-15 and was commissioned by charity in Kind Direct.

Their CEO Michael Gidney said: “Children are sharing toothbrushes, worrying about standing out at school for the wrong reasons and families are having to choose between eating and keeping clean – impossible choices no one should have to face.

“As well as surveying young people online, we spoke directly to children across England who told us hygiene poverty is damaging childhoods, and no one should feel embarrassed to ask for help.

“Our immersive ‘Not a Choice’ campaign at Bluewater shopping centre aims to bring this hidden crisis into a public space, where we all engage with hygiene products daily.

“By amplifying the voices of children and real experiences in the shopping centre restrooms, we hope to create a moment of reflection for visitors before asking them to help us end hygiene poverty.”

Until May 11, visitors to the Bluewater shopping centre’s restrooms, a space where hygiene essentials are often taken for granted, will hear voices and experiences of children having to face uncomfortable choices every day, such as skipping PE out of fear of being called smelly.

It is hoped the voices will encourage shoppers to stop, listen and take action to help end hygiene poverty for the 1.1m children living in it.

The report went on to find 26 per cent of children living in hygiene poverty suffer from low self-confidence, and 17 per cent have felt embarrassed and ashamed.

Nearly a fifth (15 per cent) of children battling it have had to share individual-use products like a toothbrush with their family, with 16 per cent having to wear the same clothes for multiple days in a row.

Just under one in 10 (nine per cent) have also faced issues with bullying related to their lack of hygiene products.

Further in-person sessions were conducted with 103 children and young people aged 5-18 (or up to 25 for some with special needs), to gather their experience of hygiene poverty.

Meetings were designed by Children North East, and were held in the North East, East and West Midlands, London and the South West, in schools, colleges, youth and sports clubs.

Leigh Elliott, CEO at Children North East, said: “The shame and stigma attached to wearing a dirty school uniform or having greasy hair can be an unbearable burden for our children and young people.

“This research, along with our Poverty Proofing consultations with thousands of UK pupils, reveal that an increasing number of children are facing this reality.

“Every baby, child and young person should be able to live a happy, healthy childhood, yet children have told us hygiene poverty is impacting their mental health and school attendance.

“By lifting families out of poverty, we can help protect young lives from the lasting impacts of not being able to access everyday necessities.

“Children North East is proud to have worked in partnership with In Kind Direct to conduct this research with children and young people, and we hope their voices will drive meaningful change.”