What is institutional betrayal in an education setting?

Institutional betrayal refers to the pain and disorientation that arise when an institution charged with care or protection—such as a public school—becomes the source of harm. This betrayal is often layered: not just the initial failure to support a student, but the denial, deflection, or cover-up that follows. For families of disabled or neurodivergent children, it often feels like being gaslit by an entity that claims to be inclusive.

Examples include schools that ignore parent concerns until there’s a crisis, rewrite the narrative to protect staff, or pressure families into silence through appeals to ‘teamwork’ or ‘tone.’ Institutional betrayal is not simply about mistakes—it’s about harm that is embedded in structures, routines, and strategic omissions.

The impact is profound. Families may lose trust in the entire system, withdraw children, or internalise guilt and confusion. Students may learn that even when they speak up, no one will listen—or worse, that speaking up leads to retaliation. Naming this betrayal is a powerful step toward repair and prevention, but most schools are still deeply uncomfortable acknowledging it exists at all.