Backpack strap cut with scissors

Contact the chair of governors. This is not being dealt with properly and is causing both you and your child stress and anxiety. It is the school's duty of care to make sure your child is OK. Tell the chair of governors that you want to know what the school is doing to ensure your child and his/her property is safe at all times during the school day. If they do not sort it, raise it as a safeguarding issue with Ofsted.

The situation isn't going to improve. You say the school is 90% Irish, who you don't like. You've now involved the local press to make matters worse. I'd be applying to a different school and a fresh start.

And the police will ask the OP if she has followed the school’s complaints procedure and what the outcome was. She hasn’t even made a formal written complaint to the school.

Take it to the police and report it as a hate crime. Let them know of the systemic harrassment.

OP you complain about racism and yet practically every comment you make is anti-Irish. If your are displaying this much casual racism in your dealings with the school it's hardly surprising that you aren't getting the response you want.

You said it for me.

A standard school scissors could indeed cut a strap like that. I can’t know what was used of course, but a scissors is entirely possible.
They’re sharper than you think, some of them anyway!

I'm a bit surprised that 90% of a school's staff and pupils in a location close to London are Irish. Migration from Ireland to England is no where near as high as it used to be.

I wouldn't go to the press - as if you do have to move schools locally it will likely count against you.

I would put complaint in writing and then follow school proceudres to escalate and if you do not get satifaction move schools.

You do realise that the local paper does not care about you or your son at all and just want a story?
Bad idea and I know people who have done similar and have really regretted it.
If they quote you on some things you have said on here you may end up with bigger problems than a damaged back pack

Im very sorry to hear about the discrimination you feel you are being subjected to, but you are being VERY unreasonable to have gone straight to the local paper without following the school’s complaints procedure. There are proper ways of doing things and going straight to the press without using the very clear procedures that are in place for all schools will not help your case at all.

Agreeing with this comment about what actually cut this strap.
Obviously as a strap for a backpack, the straps have to strong enough to hold a fair weight, therefore I think that whatever cuts through that strap has to be pretty sharp. Even adult scissors are going to be hard work getting through it.
As pp says, I’d have some real concerns as to what sharp or bladed article was used to do this. I cannot believe it was standard school scissors at all.
Very concerning.

Yes. A 7 year old in Ireland would either be in senior infants or 1st class. Even if the op is confused about the terminology as english is not her first language, year 3 makes no sense in the Irish context. Perhaps it's northern Ireland and the op is confusing P3 with year 3?

I think you need to look at the complaints policy for the school and their anti-bullying policy. I would then contact the school formally in whatever format they suggest in the complaints policy and outline your concerns and that you are unhappy with how they have been handled so far.

It is really upsetting that your child's belongings have been deliberately damaged, and the school should have a responsibility to look into this properly and raise how unacceptable it is with the class even if they are unable to work out who did it.

If you are unhappy with the response you receive to your complaint you should escalate it as per the policy.

It frustrates me that some schools seem to be unwilling to challenge what is clearly unacceptable behaviour. There are ways to address this and show a recognition that the behaviour is poor even without knowing which child did it.

But she mentions Year 3?

That’s not a term used in ROI.

Maybe you could clarify where you are OP?

I think refraining from saying the backpack culprit will be moving on to stabbing other children in the neck might be wise too.

I'm assuming the OP is in Ireland and that is why the majority of children and teachers are Irish.

Highly unlikely the op is in Ireland as a 7 year old would be in either senior infants or 1st class, not year 3.

The massive problem here is the school's attitude to bullying. It's always reflected from the top down and the Head doesn't care so no one else does either. My DC were at a primary school with similar useless head.

Let your son know it's not okay. I found it effective to go calmly to the teacher of Head and say, so if someone cut the straps from your work bag, would you be happy the matter was closed same day with no investigation? Press for an answer. Also ask to see the written bullying policy and check they have followed procedure. And complain to the Governors.

Lots of people will think this is OTT. But we either condone bullying or we don't. I don't. So make it as difficult for them to as you can.

Some corrective actions to prevent recurrence? That's what is expected in my workplace.
Get CCTV?
Lock cloak rooms, have staff present when they are open?
Count sharp objects in and out of classroom stores?

Obviously I don't work in a school, I work in aerospace where mistakes can cost lives so maybe I am overreacting about a few sharp objects in a school....

If so it reads oddly, because from details the OP has mentioned it doesn’t seem as if she’s in Ireland. Not ROI anyway, unless she’s using unusual terminology for the classes?

This.

Putting a complaint in writing seems to mean it gets treated seriously - and if you do via e-mail or dated letter - (keep a copy) you can refer back to it in future if needed.

Some schools are bad with bullying - and I know a few kids who in end just moved and were so much better off having done so - despite dire warnings problems would just follow them.

I agree.

This sounds like a terrible school! Is there any possibility of moving your child to another?

I've never known a primary school to use sharp scissors. Usually, they're the round ones that are pretty useless for anything except paper. The constant turnover of teachers and lack of supervision sounds concerning. They're probably rewarding the bull because the teachers themselves don't want to be targeted by him!