Thoughts from secondary teachers and parents particularly welcome.

[ElvenDreamer]

Dd goes to a secondary school in the nearest city, bit of a bus (service bus) ride to and from. There are a lot of kids from another school in the vicinity who also get on and she is getting increasingly distressed by their behaviour. Throwing food, passing rude remarks to her and her friends etc. I've advised her to keep her head down, not engage and ignore, which she is doing.

Today however she was particularly upset as she could 'hear them saying and doing inappropriate things' (what this was she's not divulged as yet) 'and many comments that are racist.' This is where I draw a line. Do I email the school and let them know their students are behaving like this so they can bring it up in assembly or something? Or will they not be interested. We know they are from this school because they are all in uniform. I've taught my kids that if they hear racism amongst their friendship groups, to be brave and call it out, but I don't really want my small yr7 starting in on a group of older kids who clearly give no f*s.
What would you do in this instance? Do I just continue to tell her to ignore, (maybe we're being overly sensitive, I'd be the first to admit we live quite a sheltered life,) or should something be said?

Tell her to sit near the front if she can. By all means tell the school but if this is a public bus then the school can't do much.

I wouldn't put a Yr 7 in the position of even being considered a snitch and these kids don't sound like they'd react well to being called out on it. You, however, can report it to the school, you can ask them not to reveal that you are a parent, but ask them to be vague about who actually is complaining. When you say "service bus" do you mean public bus or schools service?

Definitely email the school.

Yes, definitely tell the school. They’ll be furious. They’re still representing the school in uniform. Try and give an approximate age, split of boys/girls and number of children plus the bus time and number. Also any names she overhears. The school will have a vague idea of who gets a bus home. Obviously it depends on the school as to how many. I’m sure they could narrow it down quickly.

A lot of busses these days have cameras on. I imagine I'd report it to the school, but anonymously, you could also report it to the bus company. Is there another service that dd can use?

As previous poster says if they are in school uniform the can be sanctioned for bringing the name of the school into disrepute. We have sanctioned students for behaviours out of school. Definitely tell them.

thanks all, to answer a few question, it's a public bus, not a school bus, so loads of people are getting on and DD can't always get a seat at all, so not much choice over where sadly. Thankfully she actually only gets that particular one once a week due to needing to get off in town for an extracurricular activity, other days she can take a different one, she does worry for some of her friends who have to take it every day though.

Yes I had thought if I email shool I don't even need to say I'm a parent, just I had witnessed the behaviour or something similar. I know in reality they can do nothing about it, but it just feels wrong to ignore.

I think you should email the school and let them know that some of their students re behaving inappropriately on a bus, whilst wearing uniform. I think there will be something they can do about it and they will want to know.

Yes I would email the school about their behaviour toom

Absolutely e-mail the school - with descriptions of the worst offenders, if possible. No need to say it is your daughter who uses the bus.
I work in a school, and we have had a number of kids disciplined for behavior on the bus, or in the estate right next to the school.
There are also general warnings that go out to kids on particular services if the culprits can't be identified.

One of the things I have learnt as a parent is not to tell my child to put up with any inappropriate behaviour. It turns them into wallflowers and makes them targets for bullies.
I would have emailed the school in the beginning - its not too late.
The bus company should be putting their foot down too bus driver should not have to put up with this either.

I would email the school and the bus company. I have reported children to their school for seriously misbehaving. I have other email accounts for this type of thing ie not my actual name.

As it's a public bus definitely contact the bus company too, they will look into it.

Consensus seems to be that I email school, so I will try and glean a bit more info off my DD and then email. I may also report it to the bus company. The drivers may not even be aware as it's usually a double decker so much of the rabble rousing happens upstairs. DD is a tough kid and would absolutely stand up for herself and friends if needs be, this is more sort of general stuff that is happening in the vicinity rather than directly to her, (although occasional comments have been flung her way I believe,)but bottom line is no one should have to put up with and hear this kind of crap. Thank you to all who responded, you've helped me not feel like a neurotic, overanxious and over zealous mother!

I would definitely report. The school CAN do something, whether or not they WILL depends on the school ime. Fingers crossed they do.

I was once threatened with a weapon in front of 15 girls I was supervising in a public place by 2 12 year olds boys, I knew the schools they went to and their year group (from the girls I was supervising) but not their names.

I called 999 who were useless but the police did eventually get involved.

I reported to both schools, 1 school said they couldn’t help me without a name and 1 school tracked down the culprit in about an hour, and then cooperated fully with the police and social services who did interview and intervene in this kids life.

Definitely tell school. I've worked in several schools where we had to resort to getting on public transport with the kids to ensure better behaviour. I've also reported pupils from other schools and it's always been dealt with swiftly.
We also have asked the bus company for CCTV footage do that we could identify pupils and couldn't deny their behaviour.