Racism in independent school

[npsmallvillage]

Hello all. My first post but an awkward one really. My son is in year 5 and has been in his current school since nursery. A new child has recently joined and has started to racially abuse him.

I am having to explain to him words , which I my self have not heard since the nineties and it is proving to be disturbing and uncomfortable for us.

We have approached the school once and it stopped, but it has started all over again two months after the first incident.

It is having a negative effect on my son and really leaving him confused and upset. Some of the language is repugnant and just awful even for a adult.

Who do you report to if the school does not manage this situation well?. Please note it is an independent school.

Regards

Hi, thats sounds like a really hard situation, but with it being an independent school I would kick up more of a fuss about the situation as most schools have a no racial toleration rule meaning the child gets 3 warnings and is out, but I personally feel the problem lies with the parents when a child of that age is learning that kind of language, especially if its common enough to be on the TV anymore, so if you feel comfortable you could always approach the parents, though if you don't know the parents I don't recommend it. Maybe speak to other parents too and see if they had any idea too considering they know the children and the school, but I honestly think the school is failing you here if the child is uncomfortable. I myself was bullied and my parents pulled me out the school, which I'm happy about because I was happier for it, but I'm not 18 and I can't stand up for myself, and I feel its because every time I've had an issue I just learnt to avoid the situation, so unless its very bad and your child is suffering to a point where its too much, I say you fight for it to be sorted. Put your foot down with the school, but as an independent school, its a lot easier to get the bigger people who can sort it out

if its not common enough, sorry

also regarding who to report to, I'd ring up Ofsted and tell them you feel the teachers aren't dealing with this situation properly, they may tell you to ring another school board who deals especially with bullying or they may contact the school.

Has the school got a board of governors? Complain to them. This isn't just a case of bullying, it's illegal and the school should be taking it very seriously. If they don't, I wouldn't want to be any part of letting them educate my child.

Thank you for the advice...but after talking to the school, it looks like I am going have to gather evidence before I do anything...!

Some private schools are inspected by Ofsted, and they will only act if it is one of theirs.

And even so, they will becoame involved in a grievance only if/when grievance procedure is either not followed by the school or had been exhausted without resolution.

You need to start by following the school's grievance procedure. This should be readily discoverable, either on the parents section of the school website, in all the bumf they periodically send you, or on request from the school office.

For any school, it would typically start: form teacher, head of year, relevant member of senior management team, head teacher, governors. Have you gone through all those options?

On speaking the class tutor and head of pastoral care, it was concluded that it was just banter and due to the child having an older sibling ... this language can be expected !!! Next step is to get a copy of the procedure and to the headmaster.

Hi, I work in an independent school. You need to get a copy of the school anti bullying policy, and equal opportunities for pupils policy. If you cant find them on the website ring the school office and ask for them. This is not "banter" its unacceptable behavior, make an appointment to see the head teacher and also put it all in writing. Ask for a clear plan on how they are going to put a complete stop to this racist behavior.

its awful to here that your LO is going through this and that the school are taking it so lightly. Its just not acceptable.

My LO is due to start school soon and was thinking of her going to an independent school. Being black, I worry about her potentially experiencing such things too. Just wondered how u got on with dealing with this situation and anything you took from it.

This is really a serious issue and needs an urgent action. Talk to the school about it, and for the last move talk to the parents of the child so they can personally discipline him.