Child is being bullied in secondary school.

[nearden]

My year 8 child has been subject to bullying in secondary school and it has recently escalated. The school is aware and are trying to address this. It has ranged from nasty verbal interactions to recently physical ones. There are a number of children involved. I suppose I would like to know if anyone has had a successful outcome in dealing with the bullying in secondary school and what methods were put in place. I'd also be interested to know if anyone has moved their child part way through secondary to a new school and if that was successful.

1. Too many parents try for too long to solve the problem in school year 8 is a good time to move. Do not delay too long if school is not fixing this.

2. What has happened, what has school done?

3. What arrangements are in place now to ensure it DOES NOT happen again?

4. If it is physical assault, have you considered reporting to the police if school is being useless?

I would expect at the very least a f2f meeting with either the head or the deputy in charge of behaviour - have you had that?

My school would advise that you report physical assault to the police. Schools don't have the powers to deal effectively with crime, and police officers regularly work with schools.

May come in useful to know that most Secondary Schools have a Community Policeman assigned to the school . If it turns violent contact your local police station and ask to speak to Him / her . I did this and it went round school like wildfire . My DC was rarely bothered after this .

I was bullied at secondary school. I wish my parents had moved me, rather than encouraged me to tough it out. I know a lot of kids who have moved school in year 7. 8 and 9 very successfully.

I totally agree with this.

Too many humans don't want to 'give in' or 'lose' but actually cutting your losses and moving on is such a powerful act of self-care.

I personally moved school in Yr9 - not due to bullying - and it was absolutely fine.

Yr8 is a great time to move because GCSEs are unaffected.

I think a move at Y8 would could be successful. Don't leave it much later. Do you have UTC's in your area? The ones in our area are pretty good and everyone starts in Y9, so it would be a complete fresh start and your child wouldn't stand out as being new. Obviously your child's interests would need to be fit with the UTC , but they still do a full range of GCSEs.

I moved in year 9 - due to house move. It was tough at first but absolutely fine in the long run.

Good luck dealing with this. No child should be bullied.

Yes, senior staff are involved and we have had and will be having further face to face meetings to try strategies and then see how they are going. Strategies decided upon will hopefully address and stop the behaviour by the other children and also allow movement around/outside the school which will avoid these interactions occurring at all. I'm hoping that there are people who have managed to successfully deal with this as it is hell seeing this happen to your child.

I agree with moving your child, poor thing. Bullies are the absolute worst. :(

I was bullied in secondary school. It didn't get better, just ebbed and flowed. I wish my parents had moved me. I've said with my kids no way am I leaving them anywhere long term if they are unhappy.

My daughter was bullied in secondary school. I spoke to the school, and the same week it was happening again.
I pulled her straight out and placed her in another school. She was so much happier there, and I'd do the same again in a heartbeat!

I'd definitely move my child. Poor DC must be so anxious each morning.