Backpack strap cut with scissors

It's called majority rule and discrimination. Basic power politics.

If this backpack is constructed in a usual way, this "break" has occurred cleanly, through 2 layers of webbing, and not at a point weakened by stitching. I can't see how that would happen naturally.

Racism is everywhere regrettably and no doubt it is found in this school too.

However, OP’s assertion that the principal isn’t acting because of her ethnicity/nationality (and subsequent bias) is also a racist assumption. There may be many reasons why the headteacher isn’t engaging fully, no evidence of the backstrap cutting being one. Maybe she’s not great at her job, or understaffed/unsupported? We just can’t know why OP isn’t getting the response she needs. Without doubt, following the correct channels to complain and recording everything would help you here though OP.

Your child being bullied at school is absolutely terrible and something you are quite right to pursue OP, but I think you’re approaching it the wrong way.
You say you’re respectful and kind but quite a lot of what you’ve said on this thread seems to be wild surmisings and predictions. I know you’re angry but, the trouble is, a lot of people will take you less seriously when you fling around accusations like that.

It would help the discussion if the OP stopped spouting anti Irish racism.

So 90% of the pupils are in a gang?

OP. I'm sorry you feel your dc has been subject to racist bullying by dc. Please ignore those refusing to accept kids of their nationality could be racist and suggesting you must be racist to think that.
You'd be better off either moving your dc or going through the complaints procedure on the website than going to the paper.

Sadly OP Mumsnet is not the place for this discussion. Other minority posters (and some non minority posters) can easily recognise how serious this is- as all the mums would if your child was being bullied and her belongings cut for being a girl.

But you have and will get an enormous amount of people not only refusing to believe racism is a problem but also making out that you are hysterical and paranoid for knowing it when you and your family experience it.

The advice from some to get all communications with the school in writing is good advice.

Also this.
I've seen many a broken backpack and the fraying on that strap indicates there is a possibility that it just snapped. It happens.

But the OP prefers to believe an 8 year old snuck a sharp knife or scissors into the cloakroom and hacked at the bag unseen. And despite having absolutely no evidence of this scenario is prepared to go to the press with their version.

I disagree. There is racism going on there and it isn't @IkeSmile perpetrating it. It's anti immigrant threats by the majority in the school.

I'm aware it sounds somehow, but it really is the truth. I'm not the only concerned parent. But hey...we should accept it!

Nobody is saying you should accept it. What they are saying is that procedures should be followed. If the Head is ignoring you, make a complaint to the school board and/or to Ofsted. Follow the complaint procedures that will be on the school website. But don't go to the papers without having followed them, complaining about the Irish ganging up on you. This will not help you or your son.

I'm sorry but a child in school in London (or anywhere else, but London is known for knife crime) with a blade sharp enough to cut like that is a huge threat. And to be shut down by the SLT in school is shocking. WHY has a child got a blade in school in the first place?

I would pull my child out of a school if I found out blades were carried. Certainly not a safe environment. It's like something out of Gangs of New York.

Nobody is telling you to accept it, just to deal with it properly

Probably as well now she will be doing a <insert local paper here> sadface.
Really bad move OP

I would say a lot of schools are crap with bullies. My eldest was bullied I complained, nothing was done, I went higher. Still nothing. Apparently there are no bullies in that school. I went to the council, it was added to the bullying child’s record and mines that he had been bullied by him and they were to avoid the same classes in high school. This took years, in hindsight I wish I’d moved him. High school came down like a ton of bricks when he got a flying monkey ( another boy) to start on him who then confessed and blamed everything on bully.

Both kids were white Scottish so no element of racism in my case.

My best advice is to use their language certain phrases seem to trigger safeguarding responses. X doesn’t feel safe in school etc.

My eldest also learnt to box and the direct aggression stopped after he punched the aggressor back. Carried on with the sneaky stuff though.

Remove your child from the school and send him somewhere else OP. A school without any ethnicities you dislike. You clearly have no trust in the school to keep your child safe. So remove him and find a new school.

Because you may end up looking very bad in the local press, alienating your community and destroying your relationship with the school for a start.
If you wanted the school to take action you have shot yourself in the foot I am afraid.
Going to the papers rarely achieves the desired result

You also need to stop leaping to ‘what will the child do next… stab someone’ you’ve mentioned it at least 3 times and I haven’t ever read the whole thread. There’s a massive difference between cutting a backpack strap and stabbing someone in the neck. Comments like this will not help you discuss this calmly to conclusion with school. And they will certainly not help you with a local paper (although will def make the editor gleefull for a colourful story)

All I can say is that is exactly what my bag strap looked like and I know it wasn't cut, it just broke

You need to stop with the ‘Irish’ bashing OP! It’s really not on! You are coming across as incredibly racist.

Talk of involving police and newspapers in an incident involving eight year old children is bizarre.

Your constant references to possible future stabbings when talking about eight year olds are also a massive reach.

The insistence in the problem being with a certain group of professionals protecting their own nationality is unreasonable.

The school have investigated and there is absolutely no proof that the child you are convinced is responsible has done anything. What more do you want them to do?

Having said all of that, when a parent reaches this level of mistrust with their child's school the best option is to change schools.

I’m extremely sorry your child is being bullied. However, you need to be careful that you don’t show the sort of racism you’ve exhibited on this thread when speaking to the paper, as it will dilute the point you’re trying to make.

Why on earth have you gone to the papers instead of following the complaints procedures or any of the other advice you have received here? You asked for advice, were given strong recommendations based on the systems in place, but you've gone for something completely different!