To ask how do get college to take bullying seriously

[Chocolateforlife]

It’s related to bullying that only happens in one lesson, ICT. I’m 18 but can’t ask my parents for advice as don’t live with them or speak to them and have no one else I can ask for advice on this. There have been incidents in every ICT lesson, mainly the same people always calling me a “retard” (I have high functioning autism) as well as other names. Every single time I report these incidents verbally to the tutor and the SENCO after the lesson and nothing ever gets done about it despite being repeatedly assured that it will get resolved (never does get resolved). I’ve drafted the below email (in the screenshots below) to send the safeguarding and leadership teams at college to try and get them to deal with and resolve this bullying. I’m worried to send the email incase they think it’s stern or aggressive but I’ve tried the kind approach and they never deal with anything. I also don’t know what to put as the subject for the email. I’ve scribbled out all names from the screenshots of the email that I’ve drafted. Is the email ok to send? Is it the best way to get them to take it seriously? Or is there a better way? I literally have no one I can ask for advice.

Title should say “to get college” not do.

Send it OP, there’s nothing wrong with that email

Sorry tis is happening to you OP. Is the tutor aware? I'd just start vidoeing people on your phone if they're being obnoxious/discriminatory.

Your email needs to be shorter and you need to get to your point quicker. I have up quite quickly with the parts in brackets,

You need to give them a concise chronology with short notes of who it was reported to.

Ask them to outline to you in writing what they are going to do to help you,

I gave up

Yes the tutor is aware and so is the SENCO but no one does anything.

I know I think it should be shorter but then I’m worried I’d miss out important detail. I don’t know how to explain everything in detail in less words, and I’m worried for getting in trouble for sending the email incase they think it’s too stern or anything.

I worry they’ll think it’s too stern.

I just want college to deal with everything and quickly.

Also agree you need to provide a concise commentary removing the emotive commentary about how staff have reacted. It needs to be factual; bullet point the different incidents and importantly the impact on you especially in line with the vulnerable status you highlight. Short and to the point would be best. Sorry to hear you’ve got this going on.

Hi OP.

I'm sorry this is happening to you- and well done for raising it. I'm a sixth form tutor. This should be taken seriously.

Firstly, I would get rid of most of the material in brackets, because I think it undermines some of your points and makes it overly long.

Secondly, is there any chance you can reorganise it and perhaps just bullet point separate incidents?

Your email is perfectly valid, and makes important points. It should be dealt with regardless. However, as you're asking us, the suggestions I'm making would make it sound more professional. Also, when looking at bullying incidents in a school, it is very useful to have them divided out.

It's honestly fine to show that you're emotional and struggling with it- because you are. That's not surprising. If you want to sound professional, then perhaps get rid of all the bits where you sound accusatory or emotional- and just replace them with one line at the end, summing up your emotions e.g. 'I'm finding both the bullying, and what appears to be a lack of consequences, very upsetting'.

However, it's a good email already, OP. I hope you get the support you need. You deserve it.

OP I also gave up on page one because it is very long winded. I agree with PPs- it needs to be more concise. Remove the brackets. I would also use bullet points and be factual as opposed to asking questions like why wasn’t I moved seats even if I was this would not resolve the issue type thing.
you should definitely send an email though, it’s not acceptable what is happening to you.

Op it depends on the will of the college.

An Ofsted report may help to clarify their mind's eg ask them again to help you and mention you have seen that Ofsted welcome feedback at any time and bullying is a big one.

I've known places to deal with bullying swiftly.

The use of the word retard is an instant intervention and red flag in where my niece work's. Immediately as in reported and their report is marked.

agree with others about length. Factual - this happened which made me feel like x.

but I would also include what a resolution looks like for you? If it is just them investigating, fine. But what if they don’t find that there has been bullying? I would suggest something along the lines of… I need this to be resolved as a matter of urgency. I would expect a meeting this week to discuss the issue and a follow up outlining what action is going to be taken. At the very least I would expect…. Ensure that your expectations accord with the policy.

hope this helps

Remove the emotion and stick to the facts, it's a bit of a mumble. Things like "Why was I not moved?" clutter the email and take away from your point. Fingers crossed it gets sorted for you asap.

Hello OP,

So sorry you’re going through this. I just wanted to jump on to agree with Curioushorse, and say that this sort of bullying would certainly be taken seriously where I have worked in the past (teacher training).

Your email is not aggressive, but it is assertive and serious, which is quite right in these circumstances. All the best - I hope this gets sorted out to your satisfaction very quickly.

Thanks everyone for the help. I sent an email earlier and have just got this back now
“Thanks for the note, xxxx (my name). Appreciate the seriousness however we’ll investigate when we can, could be up to 3 months from now.

Appreciate your patience.

xxxxxxx (name of the person who replied to my email.

Head of safeguarding

sent from outlook for iOS”

I don’t know what to reply with but I’m not happy with that reply to be honest. I’m not happy with having to put up with being bullied for 3 more months.

I don’t know what to reply to him with as I really don’t want it dragged out over months, I just want it sorted.

Do they say anything in their policies about timing of dealing with complaints? It doesn't sound like they're taking it seriously if they'll investigate it 'when they can'. Did you send this to the head of the college?

No as I don’t know what his email is and when I asked at reception today they said he “doesn’t take student queries”. I’ll check the policies about timing of dealing with complaints.

I’m in college now so will try and speak to someone again today.

Some unhelpful replies 🙄 the op is 18 remember that.

I'm really sorry you're being bullied and I hope you are taken seriously this time.

If you need someone to talk to, feel free to private message me on here. I was bullied too and it really can leave it's mark. Don't give up OP, you don't deserve this.

Can you go to ofstead? And report the college. Take it to the top. Do not give in. 3 months is absolute balls. And excuse the first part of my previous reply, I misread one of the replies sorry.

I would simplify the language (remove the "as such" repetitions and "any way shape or form" etc because they make it long winded, melodramatic and a bit garbled) and set out your points clearly. Bullet point the incidents.

Then send it. You shouldn't have to put up with this.

I would simplify the language (remove the "as such" repetitions and "any way shape or form" etc because they make it long winded, melodramatic and a bit garbled) and set out your points clearly. Bullet point the incidents.

Then send it. You shouldn't have to put up with this.