Managing separation and divorce at school

Sending a joint letter to the headteacher is the first thing to do, but sometimes speaking to the class teacher in person is also a good idea. ‘It’s always important to let a class teacher know of any change of circumstances that can affect a child,’ says Sara Hassle, spokesperson for family advice and information charity Family Lives. ‘A face to face meeting can be daunting when you are feeling so stressed and upset, so even making a phone call is better than a letter. There may be things that the school have noticed about your child which can then be spoken about. An appointment is often more helpful because the child can be part of the discussion, depending of course on their age.’

The school needs to know who the primary carer is and who else is allowed to pick up the child from school. Teachers also need to know if one of the parents is likely to try to remove the child from school without permission. Emergency contact details must always be kept up to date.

These are a good idea, advises Ms Hassle. ‘There are often situations where parents continue to live in the same home after separating due to joint tenancies and mortgages. Regular catch-ups with both parents – either together or separately – are very useful and help children feel  they are still at the centre of their parents’ lives even if they are not together anymore.’

It’s better if the separated parents can attend together and many do put on a united front for parent-teacher meetings. But if a parent feels they cannot concentrate properly because they are feel so uncomfortable at sitting alongside an ex-partner, it’s worth sending in a request for separate meetings. ‘A school isn’t automatically obliged to supply separate meetings, but if domestic violence has been involved in the split, then they would accommodate separate meetings,’ says Sonny Patel, solicitor in the family law department of Seddons Solicitors.

Both parents need to give consent for school trips. If one parent didn’t give their permission and the child was hurt during the trip, then theoretically the school could be open to being sued. 

‘This is a key decision in the life of a child and fall-outs over choice of school can be common,’ says Mr Patel. ‘If the parents cannot agree between themselves, one or both needs to seek a specific issue order.’ If attempts at mediation then fail to find an agreement, the parent needs to set out in writing why their preference is the best way forward for the child – perhaps the child is talented at the arts or would be better suited at a school specialising in science. If the disagreement persisted, the decision would be made by a judge in the family court. The child’s wishes would also be taken into consideration. No legal aid is available for this course of action.

‘Sometimes a parent wants to revert back to their maiden name or they meet someone else and want to get married,’ says Mr Patel. ‘The school should not change the child’s surname on the register without evidence that the other parent has given their consent.’