DS is 12 and in year 8. He would ordinarily get the bus home and should have been on the bus on Tuesday but the bus company sent a small coach and the driver stopped allowing children on once it reached capacity meaning DS had to walk home (50 min walk).
On his way home he overtook three boys from his year. He didn’t know the boys and had never interacted with them before this, he didn’t even know their names. As he walked past them, one of the boys ripped his airpod out of his ear so DS snatched it back, shouted at them and ran away. After a short while, DS could see they weren’t chasing after him so he decided to stop running but then the boy who had snatched the airpod did start running so a chase ensued. When the boy caught up with DS, he proceeded to start punching DS in the face and had punched him 4-5 times before a woman who lived on the street intervened and he ran away.
The woman kindly drove DS home and I took DS to her home yesterday to thank her with some wine and chocolates. She invited us in and told us she witnessed the attack and said the other two boys were there too (this is with no prompt from DS that any other boys were involved). DS didn’t see the other two boys so wasn’t aware they were nearby.
I informed the school as soon as I found out what had happened and they told me they had passed the message onto the student liaison officer who would call me back. I also called 101 and an officer is visiting to take a statement on Saturday. The SLO called me yesterday morning to ask for the full story and said he would speak to DS first thing. It transpired that the boy who attacked DS was expelled before Christmas so the SLO told DS there was nothing the school could do. There was also no attempt to find the other two boys, we still don’t know their names.
I just spoke to the SLO again and he reiterated that they are unable to do anything because the boy has been expelled. When I asked about the other two boys, he simply said that DS has said they weren’t involved so he didn’t feel any further action was necessary. When DS said they weren’t involved, he meant they didn’t attack him but they clearly witnessed it because the woman who helped said there was three boys. The SLO hadn’t even attempted to find out who they are to speak to them which is frustrating in the least.
I’m just really upset it even happened. He should have been on the bus so this situation should never have occurred but obviously he should be safe walking home from school anyway. I’m disappointed with the school’s response as well, it feels as though they just want to wash their hands of it because the main perpetrator is no longer their pupil. Are the school right here or is there anything else I should/could be pushing for? DS is a really great kid who has never been in trouble and would never provoke anyone, he was literally just walking past the wrong people.