The parents in the Glyn technology school case, like many who win appeals against expulsions, have a determined, well-briefed, 74-year-old Welshman to thank.
The former head of a large Welsh comprehensive and former principal education officer of the Commission for Racial Equality, Gerry German does not think pupils should be permanently excluded, regardless of what they have done.
He considers exclusions wasteful, traumatic and covdiscriminatory, as black pupils are three or four times more likely to be excluded than white.
Two years ago, he set up the Communities Empowerment Network with a pound;200,000 Lottery grant to act on behalf of excluded pupils. He is the only full-time member of staff. So far, the CEN has helped more than 4,000 pupils.
Mr German represents excluded pupils at governors’ disciplinary committees that approve exclusions as well as at the higher, independent appeals panels. He also trains others to act as “advocates”. He represented the two (white) boys in the Glyn case himself. He has helped pupils all over the country but five local authorities in the London area are most likely to refer parents to his Wandsworth-based service.
Last year, CEN dealt with almost 800 cases of fixed-term and permanent exclusions, an average of some 65 a month. Mr German won 29 cases he brought before panels and lost only 11. Nationally, only one in three appeals goes in the parents’ favour.
But he takes greater pride in achieving a “100 per cent reintegration rate”, where he helps pupils settle into the school that excluded them or a new school.
Schools are said to fear Mr German’s appearances because he is very well-informed on the law and procedure surrounding exclusions. But he told The TES this week: “I never argue on procedural points alone but on both procedure and the substance of the case.”
Stuart Turner, head of Glyn school, said: “The whole appeals process is dreadfully unfair. The school only has its own resources while the parents get legal support and the support of those who are heavily involved in appeals daily.
“The education authority is meant to be neutral but its neutrality is infringed by the fact that it invites parents to go to CEN for representation at appeal panels.”
