12 - 13 year old girls at secondary school. Not many girls in the class but they have been close and get along well. New child, Anna, joined at Christmas and they welcomed her into the group.
At half term things within the group started to get unpleasant and there were fallings out, exclusions and spiteful actions. A couple of parents were worried about this and cross-examined their daughters. It emerged that Anna has been stirring the shit with the others. Telling lies, saying things have been said that hadn't, complaining to teachers about things that didn't happen. Setting them off against each other. Threatening them if they didn't do as she said.
When they realised what was happening the girls were very upset but there were apologies and they made up, as best they could. They decided to have nothing to do with Anna because she couldn't be trusted.
Now Anna's mother is complaining that she is being bullied and excluded. The girls admit she's being excluded but with good reason. The class teacher knows what went on but is trying to persuade them to include Anna again but they won't. They have been forced to do some activities with her in school but refuse point blank (with the support of their parents) to have anything to do with her outside school.
The mother won't leave it alone and is up at the school every week. One of the other parents discovered the reason Anna left her previous school was because of exactly this behaviour.
The girls are fed up with being made to look like the bad guys by the teachers. Shouldn't the teachers just lay off and stop trying to force things?