To ask what should happen now? DD attacked by other students

[RainInNovember]

DD is 15, shes had a few issues with people, got into a few arguments, nothing major and mainly over whatsapp etc, she does seem to get involved in the drama. But a lot of her friends are similar and there are often fallings out but then friends again the next week.

I just had a message from dd at school. she said two girls who she used to be friends with have waited outside her lesson for her and followed her. once she was on her own they put a coat over her head and started punching her in the head and pulling her hair and dragging her about.

she has told school and she said the girls are currently in isolation, I have called school who said they're investigating now and will call me back shortly.

I have never dealt with anything like this before. I just want to know what to expect and how seriously they should take it.

My year 8 grandson was attacked at school last year, he’d been the subject of a bullying campaign by an older lad. School took it seriously.

GS goes to school on his bike, he was allowed to leave 10 minutes earlier than the rest of the school, his teacher rang my DD first to ask her permission for it and to ensure someone would be home for him. A male teacher was at the gate to ensure no one was waiting for him and another was on the bypass bridge that crosses the main road.
He was allowed to get to school ten minutes earlier in the morning and let into the classroom. DD was really impressed with how school handled it.

*RainInNovember · Today 17:10

not happy though i told school id be contacting police and they said of course thats my prerogative but the girl wants to study law and this might impact her future

ok??*

And your dd wants to go to school without being beaten up

If this girl doesn’t have the intelligence to realise that beating someone up was going to put paid to any future career in law then it is best she comes to terms now with the realisation she just isn’t that bright

The school’s response does sound weak (unless this is just a holding response while they investigate).

As has already been suggested, check whether the school’s response is in line with its behaviour policy. If it isn’t (or even if it is) you can make a formal complaint. The complaints policy should set out the process; usually, it’s a complaint to the HT, with escalation to the governing body if it isn’t resolved to your satisfaction.

Then there’s the separate matter of reporting to the police as a criminal matter.

but the girl wants to study law and this might impact her future

If they said that to me my response would be well my daughter wants to come to school and not get assaulted but we don’t always get what we want unfortunately

If someone was attacked in the street then it’s a police matter so why when it happens in a school is it a school matter

Bloomin heck 😂

TBF I'd have had to ask the school why they felt you needed to know about the girl wanting to join the police.
The school had no reason to tell you that other than to try to get you to probably think about it and feel sorry for her in case it affects her future, inorder to make you change your mind about reporting to the police.

Your job is, rightly as you're doing to protect your DD and make sure these girls don't think they can get off scot free, a one day suspension/punishment isn't really much of a deterant.
If the girls future in the forces is ruined she needs to, and by the sound of it along with the school, face up to it as being her own doing and no one else.

Hopefully the girls parents will take it a bit more seriously.

Many will do silly things when young but literally attacking someone can't and shouldn't be looked on as silly this girl didn't attack in self defence while being attacked herself she actually waited and threw something over your DD head, which was probably done so that your DD couldn't identify her.

thanks, this is true. why would they tell me about the girls intention to study law if not to dissuade me from reporting

but the girl wants to study law and this might impact her future

In that case her parents should have done a better job at teaching her right from wrong.

@RainInNovember
Fro personal experience.... when your DD brushes her hair save any clumps that may be tangled/fall out. The Police used mine as evidence. Pictures of marks today and over the next few days - bruises take time to come out.

Also as a victim of assault your DD can not (and should not) be made to take part in any "restorative" justice (IE being made by the school to sit in a room with her attackers).

I'd also ask the school exactly what they are going to do in order to keep your DD safe from retribution?

If the young lady is old enough and smart enough to know she wants to study law, then she’s old enough and smart enough not to go around physically assaulting other students. Not your problem at all if her future is impacted. What about the impact on your daughter?? You stick to your guns OP!

Call the police. That's what I did.

That's pathetic for a serious and dangerous assault like this. Do they seriously want to give out the message that that sort of conduct just gets you a day off school?

Head of governors here.
My school (academy wc area with high number of pupil premium - said for content as others have mentioned certain "areas" suggesting they may be lax) would be on this immediately.

You need copies of related policies which should be available on the website to find out what action should normally be taken.
I'd be in school tomorrow for a meeting with HT and Pastoral.
The school appear to have acted swiftly to isolate/exclude.
They should have interviews and notes already plus cctv footage which will help determine outcomes.
The outcome should be matched to the policies eg some behaviours at my school warrants an immediate permanent exclusion.
There will also be an Appeals procedure at which stage Governors would be forming a panel to make a decision outwith the school management team.

Regarding the Police, I would ask what the school policy is for an assault of this nature, you may find this action is already in progress.

If you are unhappy you should escalate to the Chair of Governors via the complaints procedure.

Also ask for their safeguarding policy. This is child on child abuse and fails under that policy would have very serious implications at ofsted time.

Sounds like you would be doing the legal profession, and any potential clients of this girl's, a massive favour by keeping her out of it. Surely someone who wants to study law knows that physical assaults are criminal?

The school is perfectly free to impose a suitable punishment, including a long term or even a permanent exclusion.

Have a read here:

educationinspection.blog.gov.uk/2019/10/04/what-is-peer-on-peer-abuse/

Read up on what OFSTED expects and quote it in the meeting.

Tough Shit!

If she wants to study law, she will be well aware of the criminal nature of whats she's done and that she shouldn't have done it in the first place.

I'm sorry, but the school saying this and trying to guilt you out of reporting is well out of order.

Great advice.

'Restorative justice' merely empowers the bullies, in my view.

20 yrs ago, I was a HoD in a Scottish secondary school. A 15 yr old boy chased another boy into my room at break. I yelled at him to stop but (unusually for me) didn't get close to him, because I was waiting to re-take a pregnancy test. (Had got a faint line which quickly faded, so thought I'd wait a few days and try again.)

He punched me right in the stomach. Also punched the two men who came to my aid after a senior pupil yelled for them.

The police 'lost the statements'.

A good while, later, I got a phone call from SACRO, wanting me to sit down and chat with the boy for a 'restorative conversation'. He was 'really sorry'. I'd 'got in his way' and he'd hit me by accident. The boy was the 'victim' of a 'homophobic attack'. (From the boy who was running away from him?)

I told them that there was no way I was sitting down with him.

Years later, some girls in my class told me that the boy - now a grown man - was boasting about the fact that he'd punched me in the stomach.

I wish to goodness that I'd not been so considerate of the boy's feelings at the time. I had thought that the guilt of causing a miscarriage might be too much for a 15 yr old. I now take the view that actions have consequences.

Someone this violent in their teenage years knows what they're doing. The girls who attacked the OP's daughter are a pair of cowards and obviously self-centred. Why bring up the desire to study law now? The victim and her parent are supposed to care for the thugs who showed no compassion for their victim?

The OP should put her daughter first. Call the police.

appaently 1st offence is always a days sspension, secons offence 2 days etc

They will always try and dissuade you from contacting the police because it reflects badly on the school and it's behaviour management. They will want to keep it as quite as possible. At most they will give the girls a few days exclusion.

I keep thinking of more things to add.
Best advice is to keep referring to the school policies and make very clear this is a safeguarding issue.
Don't let them bring up the assailants situation.
You are there to ensure that students can go to school to learn without their education being disrupted by anti-social behaviours.
Quote the OFSTED guidance. They recommend a multiagency response including the police.

That's all very well, but surely the nature of the offence should also be taken into consideration?

If someone were to assault the HT, would he be happy with this?

15 yrs ago, a former pupil - accompanied by a friend - came into the school where I worked. Both obviously on drugs. Verbally abusive. They wouldn't leave when a fellow HoD told them to go. One tried to hit him and missed.

HoD asked the office to phone the police. The said they needed the HT's permission. HT came out of his office and told the HoD that he was 'overreacting'.

The former pupil punched the HT. Police were called.

The girls career ambitions are not your concern.

Rubbish.
So setting fire to the school would be a days suspension?
Attacking a teacher?
Dealing drugs?
Carrying weapons?

If that's the case then I'd be very concerned about the school indeed.

OP, it sounds like you’ve been very reasoned and I really hope your DD is ok. What a horrible situation.

These situations do arise in schools and, contrary to popular belief on here, the vast majority of schools do try to manage them with the best interests of all concerned at the heart of decision making.

To those criticising the school for not contacting the police themselves, it is generally the expectation that the victim logs a complaint of assault unless they aren’t able to. I welcome parents doing so although almost always the police come back with “this is a school matter”. This isn’t about schools trying to save their reputations necessarily, just that resources are stretched and we know the response we are likely to get.

obviously every situation is unique and this may not be relevant to OPs case but this has been my experience.