Asperger's boy still without school place (From Croydon Guardian)

Purley Asperger's boy still without school place

8:24am Monday 27th October 2008 in News By Kirsty Whalley

A Purley boy with Asperger’s syndrome is still languishing at home, two months after being turned away from an exclusive school in Reigate.

Charles Hall had been told he was accepted at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School (RAA) by Croydon Council, but was told to go home on his first day because there was no place for him.

The school blamed the incident on a misunderstanding with the council but refused to change their position and accept the 11-year-old boy.

The RAA finally refunded the money that Charles’ parents had spent on school fees and a school uniform, after the story ran on ITV at the end of September.

In the meantime, bright boy has been sitting at home alone and is missing out on his education.

Charles’ frustrated dad John Hall, 58, said: “Croydon Council are still in the process of getting Charles a home tutor until a school can be found for him and are also looking for a school for him. It seems to be a slow process.”

“I have written a letter to the headteacher of the RAA, copied to the Chairman of the Board of Governors, complaining about the stories that he has been telling the media, and attaching photocopies of various letters and documents to back-up my claim.

“He wrote back to me in a letter dated October 22 saying that he will send me a detailed response to my comments by the end of next week. No hint of any apology at all.”

Mr Hall is considering making a complaint to the school under the Disability Discrimination Act.

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