July 11, 2023, Leeds Live: Leeds mum's heartbreaking account of autistic son left in turmoil and without school for three years https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-mums-heartbreaking-account-autistic-27294624.amp
N. England
Kirsty Rose Hewkin has hit out at 14+ Academies, part of Leeds City Colleges, after son Tayler was rejected
A Leeds mum is “fuming” after her son was rejected from an academy as she believes it was due to his autism.
Kirsty Rose Hewkin, 35, is at her wit’s end as her son Tayler Hewkin, 14, has been out of school for about three years and she desperately wants to get him back into regular education.
The Armley mother-of-two described 14+ Academies, part of Leeds City College, as “every parent’s dream” which made it an even bigger blow when his application to join the Year 10 intake was turned down.
14+ Academies, based at Park Lane Campus, offers an alternative environment to mainstream school with an emphasis on vocational subjects. So, while the academy isn’t a dedicated special educational needs (SEN) provision, the bulk of their intake at (66 per cent) this year were SEN pupils.
Kirsty has alleged the school lied to her and Tayler after it rejected his application to enrol, telling them it was simply due to him picking Engineering as a vocational subject which was oversubscribed.
She’s questioned why he wasn’t offered any alternative subjects and claimed the school has “over-stretched” itself on the number of pupils in attendance, not allowing enough space for the most desperately in need of alternative education.
Kirsty, who has first-hand experience of the academy as her 17 year-old daughter used to attend it, is not convinced by its reasoning and has spoken of the family’s heartbreak. The 35-year-old, who works as a hairdresser, said: “I thoroughly believe without a doubt in my mind it’s because he’s autistic….
14+ Academies has refuted claims Tayler was discriminated against, stating it is “saddened” by Tayler’s upset. A spokesperson added the academy, which only has 240 spaces in total, received more than 400 applications for the Year 10 intake alone and “simply do not have the funding” to offer more spaces.
Speaking of her son’s uphill battle with autism and the hope 14+ Academies inspired, Kirsty said: “We were so hopeful of this college, this was like a last resort. He’s meant to be doing his GCSEs and no school so far has accepted him into their SEN clusters to support him because they’re overrun.
“They’ve [14+ Academies] over-stretched themselves, spread themselves far too thinly. The academy every parent’s dream as their kids can cope in an educational environment that’s not too overbearing and stressful for them.
“I’m absolutely fuming, and I’m so upset for him because he deserves more. The matter needs to have a light shone on it so much as there are so many kids suffering.” A life in turmoil
Kirsty said the pandemic had a devasting effect on Tayler’s autism, which occurred in the period that bridged primary and secondary school. She said his world was turned upside down after losing contact with old school friends and he found himself “physically unable” to attend the secondary school he was enrolled in.
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