AIBU to write a formal letter of complaint to headmistress

[onceamai]

Have found out in the last few weeks that there is a group of bullies at dd's school who are behaving badly and disrupting classes and who have instilled a great deal of fear throughout year 7 of a small school. DD is very very upset although assures me they haven't actually bullied her (yet). However, they have been very rude to a disabled child in front of a member of staff and the same child has been pushed into cupboards on purpose. It appears the school is doing very little about this and expressed surprise when I discussed it with the KS3 tutor. I am minded to write a very formal complaint to the head as this has now gone on for a term and a half and seems to have taken root within the culture of the year.

YANBU. Disability/racial/gender discrimination should always be taken seriously as should bullying of any other kind. You could also copy the letter to the Governors if you feel particularly strongly?

I would certainly do that.

Does the child's mother know?

Yes you should write to the headteacher about it and escalate it if you don't get a satisfactory reply from her within about 2 weeks

Agree with all the posts above.

I would write to head teacher and also cc the letter to board of governors.

Absolutely write it. That is fucking awful.

Agree with the advice given so far.

Do contact the school by all means but if your only source of info about this is your daughter, be a little careful about how you phrase things and try to be aware that you may not be getting the full picture (and I am not at all implying that your DD is not being truthful, but that she may only be seeing certain parts of this). It should be taken very seriously.

YANBU

She's not the only source - the back story is far wider but I don't want to risk being identified.

If there are other adults with firsthand evidence, then either all write letters or write a communal one and all sign it - groups have more strength

Oh yes, DS was having problems and believe me when I say the school were brilliant but lots of other things came out (not involving my DS) but significant things were nipped in the bud straight away.

It doesn't matter how small your problem is, it may help another.

yeah and likea Head has bugger all to do other than answer letter from parents who have a child who isnt being bullied .... do you think you should get a grip and let the parents concerned sort out any potential problems???

)))Y7's(((( mollycoddled by parents with primary school attitudes

troisgarcons - your post is perhaps not the most helpful?
If the OP has real, hard evidence of bullying (even though her child is not being bullied) do you really not think she should do anything?
Was there not a post recently from a concerned mum about bullying of a black/mixed race child who "wasn't allowed to sleep on a top bunk" during a school trip "because her skin was black" - I'm paraphrasing here but I remember the post!!
That poster was a lovely, concerned person who wanted to make a difference.
Perhaps you would have been equally dismissive of her?

And for what it's worth ...... I'm a mum and grandparent who was/is very hands-off. BUT, I would have waded in big time if I percieved (sp) bullying. Hate it wit a vengeance.

with .... not wit