Backpack strap cut with scissors

[IkeSmile]

Hello everyone!
Back in December I needed your advice for actions against the school who covered bullying of a migrant child. Here we are again, with the same child and his backback strap being cut with a scissor. You can see in the picture that it's a clear cut.
Question?
React and complain in writing or ignore it?
I feel is the same child or a friend of his, acting like a thug? The only people wurh access to the cloakroom are teachers and the pupils.
Thank you!

I think refraining from saying the backpack culprit will be moving on to stabbing other children in the neck might be wise too.

But she mentions Year 3?

That’s not a term used in ROI.

Maybe you could clarify where you are OP?

I think you need to look at the complaints policy for the school and their anti-bullying policy. I would then contact the school formally in whatever format they suggest in the complaints policy and outline your concerns and that you are unhappy with how they have been handled so far.

It is really upsetting that your child's belongings have been deliberately damaged, and the school should have a responsibility to look into this properly and raise how unacceptable it is with the class even if they are unable to work out who did it.

If you are unhappy with the response you receive to your complaint you should escalate it as per the policy.

It frustrates me that some schools seem to be unwilling to challenge what is clearly unacceptable behaviour. There are ways to address this and show a recognition that the behaviour is poor even without knowing which child did it.

Yes. A 7 year old in Ireland would either be in senior infants or 1st class. Even if the op is confused about the terminology as english is not her first language, year 3 makes no sense in the Irish context. Perhaps it's northern Ireland and the op is confusing P3 with year 3?

A clear cut as you can see.
Catholic school, close to London.
And yes, we are discriminated and told off. It's not just me, lots of non Irish children have been bullied and nothing is done about. Sad.
I'm now in contact with the local news paper, who's extremely supportive.
Thank you!

Agreeing with this comment about what actually cut this strap.
Obviously as a strap for a backpack, the straps have to strong enough to hold a fair weight, therefore I think that whatever cuts through that strap has to be pretty sharp. Even adult scissors are going to be hard work getting through it.
As pp says, I’d have some real concerns as to what sharp or bladed article was used to do this. I cannot believe it was standard school scissors at all.
Very concerning.

Im very sorry to hear about the discrimination you feel you are being subjected to, but you are being VERY unreasonable to have gone straight to the local paper without following the school’s complaints procedure. There are proper ways of doing things and going straight to the press without using the very clear procedures that are in place for all schools will not help your case at all.

You do realise that the local paper does not care about you or your son at all and just want a story?
Bad idea and I know people who have done similar and have really regretted it.
If they quote you on some things you have said on here you may end up with bigger problems than a damaged back pack

I wouldn't go to the press - as if you do have to move schools locally it will likely count against you.

I would put complaint in writing and then follow school proceudres to escalate and if you do not get satifaction move schools.

I'm a bit surprised that 90% of a school's staff and pupils in a location close to London are Irish. Migration from Ireland to England is no where near as high as it used to be.

A standard school scissors could indeed cut a strap like that. I can’t know what was used of course, but a scissors is entirely possible.
They’re sharper than you think, some of them anyway!

You said it for me.

OP you complain about racism and yet practically every comment you make is anti-Irish. If your are displaying this much casual racism in your dealings with the school it's hardly surprising that you aren't getting the response you want.

Take it to the police and report it as a hate crime. Let them know of the systemic harrassment.

And the police will ask the OP if she has followed the school’s complaints procedure and what the outcome was. She hasn’t even made a formal written complaint to the school.

The situation isn't going to improve. You say the school is 90% Irish, who you don't like. You've now involved the local press to make matters worse. I'd be applying to a different school and a fresh start.

Contact the chair of governors. This is not being dealt with properly and is causing both you and your child stress and anxiety. It is the school's duty of care to make sure your child is OK. Tell the chair of governors that you want to know what the school is doing to ensure your child and his/her property is safe at all times during the school day. If they do not sort it, raise it as a safeguarding issue with Ofsted.

Why on earth have you gone to the papers instead of following the complaints procedures or any of the other advice you have received here? You asked for advice, were given strong recommendations based on the systems in place, but you've gone for something completely different!

I can't believe a 7-8 years old would do a clean cut as this, of a double strap, with a crafts scissor. My 1st thought was how are they allowed to use these items unsupervised...and what that child could do next? Stab someone? 😓 So a huge safeguarding issue!

Why not? The schools response yesterday, through the receptionist, (because the headteacher refused to meet me), was that the case is closed. No one said they did it, and that I should stich my sons backpack.
The receptionist asked if I would want the backpack or leave it to them to dispose of it!!!!!
This is not a response a school should give!
Not even close!
Do to our history, with my son being constantly bullied, now his backpack damaged, I'm sorry, but sometimes you need to make them aware that acting preferentially is not an option when you're head of the school.
I've been too kind, too respectful with a team that supports violence/bullying.

I’m extremely sorry your child is being bullied. However, you need to be careful that you don’t show the sort of racism you’ve exhibited on this thread when speaking to the paper, as it will dilute the point you’re trying to make.

Talk of involving police and newspapers in an incident involving eight year old children is bizarre.

Your constant references to possible future stabbings when talking about eight year olds are also a massive reach.

The insistence in the problem being with a certain group of professionals protecting their own nationality is unreasonable.

The school have investigated and there is absolutely no proof that the child you are convinced is responsible has done anything. What more do you want them to do?

Having said all of that, when a parent reaches this level of mistrust with their child's school the best option is to change schools.

You need to stop with the ‘Irish’ bashing OP! It’s really not on! You are coming across as incredibly racist.

All I can say is that is exactly what my bag strap looked like and I know it wasn't cut, it just broke

You also need to stop leaping to ‘what will the child do next… stab someone’ you’ve mentioned it at least 3 times and I haven’t ever read the whole thread. There’s a massive difference between cutting a backpack strap and stabbing someone in the neck. Comments like this will not help you discuss this calmly to conclusion with school. And they will certainly not help you with a local paper (although will def make the editor gleefull for a colourful story)