Fixing bullying

[chocolateworshipper]

Has anyone got any good advice on how to get school to permanently stop a bully? It has been going on for nearly a year - this nasty piece of work has made my DD's life hell. School involved the parents and it was better for a while, but then started up again. They deal with an individual incident, but it doesn't stop the next incident.

Has anyone had any success that they can share?

[noblegiraffe]

That sounds horrible, your poor DD. It is really important that your DD tells her teacher every time so that the school are aware it hasn't stopped - they can't deal with what they're not hearing about.

It can help if the bully is moved to a different tutor group/half of the year - in a big secondary school it can be possible for students in the same year group to barely see each other. It would really depend on when the bullying is occurring.

[Theworldisfullofidiots]

I'd write to the chair of governors. Sometimes schools lose the wood for the trees, and focus on the individual incidents rather than the overall pattern. Often the governors can help the school focus on the big picture and the ongoing nature of the bullying. You don't have to write it as a complaint and you can tell the head you are going to do it and why. However, I'd talk to the head first and say you are thinking about writing to the C of Gov, for an objective view.

[VeritysWatchTower]

I'd start with looking at the school's own policy on bullying and how they deal with it.

Everything needs to be in writing, even a follow up email to minute any verbal meeting.

That way you can show that a school is failing in safeguarding your daughter. And safeguarding is the key word. There should also be a policy on that on your school's website too.

My own son has suffered for a couple of weeks before reporting it but it will dealt with very quickly by the school and the HOY had my son visit his office every couple of days to report on whether anything further had happened. It is the very reason we chose the school, great pastoral care and a very hard line on bullying/disruptive behaviour.

Good luck, I hope it gets resolved.

[portico]

VeritysWatchTower is right. That is how discipline is enforced. Also, you need to check the discipline/bullying policy on the school website. This way you can define the bullying and know what can.be expected where breaches of the policy occur.

[chocolateworshipper]

Thank you so much for all of the replies - some great advice. I will update when I have contacted the school again.

[SuperPug]

It's further complicated by vicious online bullying.
Tell DD to screenshot anything.
Most anti bullying policies in schools outline police involvement if it is severe and/or involves sexting.
It's extremely frustrating but important to complain and then complain again so there's a clear record. For extended bullying, most schools outline that they will look at expulsion but this rarely happens.