DS9 being bullied. Any other options before I pull him out of school & home educated him?

[SnowyUnicorns]

As the title says really. DS9 goes to a small village school at the moment with just 70 kids. In his year there are only 3 other boys who have very different interests to DS and lots of girls. In fact there seems to be a disproportionate amount of girls:boys throughout the school which I guess is the downside of being in a small school.

In his class, they class share with the year above. There are 4 boys in that year and they are bullies. We have spoken to the school numerous times with no change in the boys behaviour. They have tried to blackmail my DS by telling him that they will only play with him if he brings in money or Fortnite cards for them which the school did nothing about. The final straw was today when they got him in a corner of the playground, slammed his back against a rough, granite wall repeatedly and all took turns in kicking his legs. There are fresh bruises and grazes all over him.

The school are doing their best but nothing changes. They have called the bullies parents into school. The kids have been spoken to numerous times but their hands are pretty much tied. It is not the sort of school that would expell the bullies because we're in a rural area and the parents would have to travel miles to take them to another school. If the school don't manage to find a solution to this bullying this week then I will be starting home education after Christmas.

I'm not over reacting, am I? DS is confident, loving, funny, kind and currently around a year ahead of his class mates. He doesn't deserve to be abused, especially in an environment where he should be safe. I'm so upset that he has been subjected to this.

[slipperywhensparticus]

Have you looked at there anti bullying policy are there governors at the school I know you said they wont exclude but have they at least suspended a child?

[CalleighDoodle]

Theyre not doing their best. Theyre not adequately supervising students at break. They are not ensuring the older boys are separated from the target if their poor upbringing bullying.

Go back to the school and ask for specific examples of what they are practically doing to protect your child.

[Tinty]

Are there no other schools nearby?
I would look into moving him to a different school.

[BobLobLawLLB]

No advice, but i was in exactly the same situation. Very small village school, the bullying DS9 suffered was horrific. We had no choice but to home educate. I had to change jobs so i only work night shifts but it was the best decision we ever made tbh. He will go to college at 14 to do his GCSEs.

[SnowyUnicorns]

Thank you for the reply. The school policy just says that bullying will not be tolerated. I am not aware of any children having ever been suspended in the last 10 years. The school is a bit fluffy and inclined to reward bullies for good behaviour instead of actually stopping the bullying because the bullying still continues behind the teachers backs.

I think perhaps I need to write to the governors because this is going too far now.

[slipperywhensparticus]

There should be an actual policy detailing steps go to the office and ask to see it

[GreenTulips]

The anti bullying policy is always rubbish

Look up the complaints procedure - it gives you step by step information on how to report a serious issue. Use it.

[Landlubber2019]

I would say I had a similar experience with my kids school, small village school just wasn't equipt to deal with the issues being encountered. As my son reached 9 he had another new teacher, who I found had previously taught in an inner city school. it took the new teacher to agree there was a problem and to respond accordingly. However, whilst ever the school fail to provide proper supervision and look to take action action bullying nothing will change....

[TeenPlusTwenties]

I'd pull him out but aim to find a new, bigger school.

[cabbageking]

If you report an incident that is acted on but it continues or it restarts then the punishment or action is not working so you report it again, but move to the next complaint level. Keep documenting any incidents with school.

They may act around bullying but they also need to ensure it stops.
Look at their bullying policy, along with peer on peer abuse, their behaviour policy and where it sits with their visit. Ask about bullying education in school, that specific year and within PHSE. Keep reporting each incident.

[MBBB]

My son is having a very similar experience at a small village school. The school are trying to support but it seems to be quite limited, especially as many of the parents won’t accept there child is a bully. Recent example is every child in class invited to a party except my DS - parent doesn’t recognise that this is bullying behaviour. We are looking to move house and school.

[palmtreedreams]

Aren’t there any other options school-wise near you?

I’d get him out tomorrow to be honest but I’d worry about opting for home ed.