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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bullying at school

3 replies

Quicknamechange1234567 · 23/05/2024 17:39

DC is in a class where bullying has been an issue, but is not the target (looking to move as obviously not a good environment, but very complex re catchment areas). Primary, aged 8/9. Two main protagonists who have been quite violent (at least one with a level of SEN who does not seem well supported - we are friends with the parents so know from them) and have drawn other children to take sides. I have previously written to the teacher when I was concerned about disruption and the other child lashing out extremely harshly aimed at multiple children including DC. The tensions have been ramping up again over the past month and DC has come home complaining of the general bullying and some violence. As they were not the main target I stupidly did not write again, as I assumed the school would be taking action.

Today the teacher has written a note stating that DC shouted at one of the aggressors and threw their bag. DC says they were provoked. DC and I have sat down and discussed appropriate ways to respond to provocation.

I will write to the teacher to say we have discussed ways to respond, but also DC has been mentioned several instances of name calling and rough behaviour over the past few weeks. The school should be aware this has been triggered by an ongoing wider problem.

Should I say more, but I don't see how to do this appropriately as the main issue is between two other children? The issue seems to come from the teacher not controlling two violent children who are bullying each other aggressively.

OP posts:
Hiddenvoice · 23/05/2024 20:13

I would ask for a meeting with the teacher . It seems like the class is constantly getting disrupted which isn’t fair. I personally wouldn’t go calling out the teacher for not managing the behaviour as she has a full class to manage and your son won’t be telling you how the children have been dealt with.
There’s sadly only so much a class teacher can do regarding bullying therefore it’s the school management team that should be doing more.

Quicknamechange1234567 · 24/05/2024 14:10

Thank you @Hiddenvoice I was careful not to write something that looked like I was taking aim at the teacher. I feel really bad for them as it is a rough class and some of the parents seem to encourage unpleasant behaviour towards other pupils and the teacher. I will meet with the teacher, but at this point I want to move DC before it has anymore of an impact. It is the lack of learning, combined with the constant stress of being around some of the children who have violent outbursts. Some of the incidents have crossed the line from being rough to outright dangerous (pushing near the road, jumping onto a back while a child was on the ground). Several of the children probably need support workers to be okay in the mainstream setting, so everyone is suffering including them.

OP posts:
Hiddenvoice · 24/05/2024 15:55

It’s definitely not fair on the rest of the class, especially when all of their learning is being continuously disrupted with the teacher’s time being spent elsewhere.
Sadly, this is what’s happening in lots of schools, there’s just not enough money annoyingly to
fund support assistants.
I would speak to the teacher and then escalate it higher to school management. The more parents that complain to management then the more likely something will change.

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