To be considering going to the media?

[Eliza22]

My DS is in Yr 10, mainstream secondary school with asd attachment. In each year he has attended from Yr7, he has had problems with bullying. The bully was eventually removed from the school. The following year a huge safeguarding mistake by school, resulting in DS being involved in a sexual assault which was handled badly by social services and we had a written apology from them, relating to this, occurred. The boy involved (they assured me) had had "interventions" and would never be in contact with DS again. This year, the boy has again been harassing/verbally abusing DS. I have had so many meetings with school (the senco/head/pastoral care head) and it just rumbles on. Additionally, DS has no friends. Never has. Wanders around on his own and states "it's just how it is". When he's approached peers to "hang out" they tell him to f**k off. He is called "paedophile/spaz/ugly/weirdo" and many other forms of abuse.

Recently two things happened.

1). Ofsted report....I contacting one of the inspectors and explained our experience of this school. They simply weren't interested in "individual cases". I now have a copy of their recent report where the woman I spoke to gives a)special recommendation for safeguarding and b) comments on the whole school inclusivity being excellent amongst peers.

2). This school has been chosen as one of six to represent our area for a study of Emotionally Healthy Schools Project .... Their artwork has been chosen as the official logo to front the campaign.

AIBU to be aghast at this? It is NOT an emotionally healthy school. I know of other pupils who's parents removed them from the school because of bullying. I have another mum who contacted me to say her child would not be returning as her child is being bullied and they are not taking it seriously.

What's the point of Ofsted? I brought to their attention a serious safeguarding breakdown (the police were involved) and the woman was not interested

I want to scream!

Do not go to the media (yet)

Write a letter outlining the order of all events(including all contacts by yourself to all concerned parties , and the police failed to protect a minor from his attacker, put the letter(keep copy) in an envolope with(hand written in ink) 'For the desk of .....name of your local Chief Superintendent " , then put it in another envelope, which you address to his/hers secretary, send it recorded delivery, keep with copy of letter. Ask what he/she personally is going to do about it? include all your contact details.

Repeat the above with your MP,

And each of the governors directly,

Now go (today) and find a specialist law firm who are used to child/vulnerable people protection.

This is a huge failure, ask yourself if any one of the staff at school had been sexually assulted by a pupil of member of staff would they have to face seeing that person daily? Or put up with abuse.

There is no magic age where the law suddenly changes we all are entitled to same level of protection, the laws the same for everyone, anyone working with children should have a full understanding of this, because when they don't abuse happens.

Is it worth getting advice from an education lawyer? You may have a legal case.

I'd avoid the media. You and your son wil have no control and they could inadvertently damage him.

God almighty, get him the fuck out of that school! I'd have taken him out years ago rather than subject him to such an unsafe environment!

www.interhigh.co.uk is an online school that goes up to A Level.

I have submitted an enquiry to InterHigh.

Sorry Eliza, I've just read my post back and it sounds really snarky. It just makes me so angry when I read about kids being bullied, especially those with ASD because they so often have an utterly miserable time at school. I appreciate that it's rarely as simple as 'well just pull them out of school, then'. I just think that if the school have allowed this bullying to go on for this long, then they're not going to change and you need to get him away from an unsafe environment. I didn't put it at all kindly, though.

My DD has AS and Interhigh has been brilliant for her. They have quite a lot of autistic/aspie students because it's a way of learning that often works well for people on the spectrum. Am happy to give you more info about it if you'd like, and there's a facebook group called 'Interhigh parents and friends' where you can ask other parents about it. A lot of students have been previously bullied, and it has a very inclusive and friendly atmosphere.

That's ok, Tawny. I didn't take it "any way" particularly. Am happy for any advice really! Will look on Facebook. And thanks

The latest.

Pupil has taken photo of DS without his knowledge and posted it, with derisory comment to Snapchat. School giving her a one day exclusion (working in school but in isolation). Am furious.