Am I expecting too much from the school?

[KathH]

This is a long & complicated story so will try & summarise. During the summer holds dd1 who's 13 had a lot of trouble with a lad round the corner. It started off with name calling but then finished up with him chasing her across the field near us with a penknife. We got the police involved although nothing happened. It all kicked off again 2 weeks ago when he grabbed her in the street & pushed her into a hedge & said he was going to turn his attentions to ds1 who's 7. DH went round to speak to his dad. His dad was a bit useless but said he would speak to him. Since then his 2 elder sisters are now out to get dd1. 1 of them goes to the same school, 1 goes to the school next door.

DD1 rang dh on Tues night in tears to say they were waiting to get her outside school. DH went & picked her up.

Same thing tonight except dh was at work so dd went back into school & told a teacher who said its not our problem call the police if you're that bothered which dd did. I was at work & about died to get a phone call from the local pc. He was really nice & said they would go to the school as they should be doing something not passing the buck to the police.

To cut a long story short the school have come up with the "solution" that dd is to finish school 20 mins earler to avoid these girls.

I am fuming. Am I being unreasonable, am very tempted to go to the school tomorrow but dont know whether I'm being unreasonable. The school said they would speak to the girl at same school tomorrow & see what she says - as if she's going to own up to it

[hotpot]

What an awful situation. Is the leaving 20 minutes early a one off or a full time "solution"? It is the schools responsibility to protect the children in their care. Does the school actually have a written policy on bullying? And can you take it to the head teacher?

On the plus side your DD has been brave and admitted not only to you but to the school that she is being targeted, most suffer in silence. And good for you for wanting it sorted.

It might be all the bully needs is the fact that it is known by the staff and that the police have been involved.

I was bullied at school because my best mate was going out with this boy that this other girl liked. It went on for months and was horrid and only ended when my friend's mother cornered one of the gang and said she would beat the hell out of her if her and her friends ever threatened us again. Ah a mother who was a bully!!! Did stop though, although these days children aren't intimidated by adults as we were.