@Figgygal
What is the schools policy on bullying and violence?
Have they followed it? If not raise a complaint to the head/governors/LA as appropriate
I’m not surprised the police aren’t interested tbh
This. School will have a bullying policy with defined procedures. If it’s not on their website request a copy (they have to provide you with it freely). Also ask for a copy of their complaints procedure.
Schools can wriggle out of things if you don’t follow their official, published policies and procedures. If you follow their official complaints procedure and keep escalating as necessary (usually, teacher, SMT, Head, Govenors, LA and OFSTED), they have to directly address the complaint.
Go through and note if/everywhere they have failed to follow their own procedures and then address that in a calm, measured formal letter. Try to keep emotion out of it (difficult under these circumstances I know) and stick to the facts.
You can also send school (and the LA) a letter notifying them that you are keeping her home until they have put procedures in place to ensure her safety. Refer to their duty of care. If she is out for longer than 15 days without you de-registering her, she will be listed as ‘missing from education’ and education welfare will get involved. That may help or could make things more complicated, depending on the EW Officer and your LA’s policies.
I have been through this several times, as I have a vulnerable SEN dc (now a young adult, so thankfully out the other side, but sadly still receiving MH support to help him deal with the trauma). His worst primary school bully went on to pick on the wrong victim in secondary school. That victim was more than capable of defending himself and put the bully in hospital, ultimately leaving him with a permanent disability. Unfortunately, the victim was then charged with assault and lost not only his freedom, but also any chance he had at his dream career. He was also a SEN pupil, which was the bully’s favourite choice of victim.
If the primary school had properly addressed the bully’s behaviour, it may never have reached the point it did, but they were a ‘known’ family with issues and although school did address my complaint and take steps to make sure my dc was safe from future attacks, they never addressed the bully’s behaviour. IMO, ultimately, the consequences of the secondary school attack are on them.
In short, follow formal complaint routes. Keep it official, formal, fact based and try to keep emotions out of it and if they still fail to respond and/or act, escalate your complaint as high as it can go.
I am so sorry you and your dd are going through this. I hope she’s ok. 