A SCHOOL trust has confirmed it is investigating allegations a headteacher called a child with special educational needs ‘Mr Autistic’.
A parent at the Meadowbrook College site in Marston claims that headteacher Nicola Partridge used the term towards her Year 11 son, who has Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD.
The parent – who wishes to remain anonymous – said the alleged incident took place on January 17.
A spokesperson for the Radcliffe Academy Trust, which oversees Meadowbrook, told the Oxford Mail the matter will be addressed through its formal complaints procedure.
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The parent said: “I got a call from my son at school saying the headteacher had called him Mr Autistic.
“He’d been vaping and handed it over but got a second vape out, and was told to hand that one over. He was told to sit in the hall and called Mr Autistic.
“He rang me and was fuming – she’s in a position of trust and she’s broken that trust.
“He’s angry and upset, he’s had his disability used as an insult against him.
“The relationship he had with her has gone now, and he doesn’t understand why someone would say this to him.
“I’m really angry, I can’t put into words how angry I am – there was absolutely no need for it.”
The parent added that her son was suspended between January 17 and 19 due to the vaping incident, and has since been instructed not to return until January 31.
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An audio clip obtained by the Oxford Mail contains a female voice saying ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I didn’t mean to do that’.
The clip was shared by the parent and is said to have been secretly recorded after the alleged incident.
The Year 11 student can be heard saying: “Did you or did you not call me Mr Autistic?”
A female voice can be heard saying ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I didn’t mean to do that’.
The student later says: “As one of your students, you should know my mental issues and needs, and for you to sit there and call me Mr Autistic is f*****g vile.”
Later on, the female voice says: “I can’t do anything about it now.”
The Year 11 student started at Meadowbrook in September, with his mum saying that despite a positive start at the school, the alleged incident has ‘broken’ trust between him and the school.
She said: “There’s been a bit of a change but he’s coped well and until this happened, he’s been really happy at the school.
“However, this is a crucial part of his education and the trust has been broken.”
A spokesperson for the Radcliffe Academy Trust said: “We are aware of the matter and it will be addressed through our formal complaint procedure.”
No further comment will be made by the trust.
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