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dh banned from school playground after dd bullied for two years

120 replies

flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 12:29

Hello everybody, I would be interested in hearing your opinion on this situation. Apologies for the extremely long post.

My 9 year old dd has been bullied for the last two years including kicking, name calling, teasing because of her disability, the excluding of dd and running away from her(she is often on her own in the playground)and having a ball thrown at her head deliberately. Lately there have been two girls who have targeted dd. DD has low self-esteem now and never wants to go to school.

We have complained on and off about this behaviour via letters and meetings but respite only lasts for a short while before it starts again.

After sending a letter to the teacher and receiving no response, and after yet another kicking incident, my dh went in to the school from the playground whilst I waited to pick up our dd's and took them home.

He was outside the classroom when someone called out the first bullies name. He confirmed with the child who they were and said 'Leave dd alone'. He went into the classroom only to find that her teacher (yet again) wasn't there.

As he left, another teacher followed him out of the playground telling him off for what he had done, dh responded saying he didn't care anymore and that the school had done nothing to protect dd. There is no doubt my dh was het up and upset, but he is a shy man and it took a lot for him to go to the school.

He went into the school office to tell the assistant head that he had spoken to the child (there are three asssistant heads as current head hasn't retired yet - we never see him at school though). There followed a discussion led by dh about their lack of action where dd was concerned, whilst dd had bruises on her legs from the kickings they were deemed 'old' and insufficient proof. For all the other incidences there was also no proof so they couldn't do anything they said. These children's parents work at the school and we feel that this may have something to do with the two bullies getting away with their behaviour.

My dh received a letter from the actual head to say that dh was banned from the playground (where parents pick up their dcs) that he had terrifed two children and had used offensive llanguage and threatened teachers. It said that if he was to set foot in the playground again they would call the police. DH is adament he only spoke to one child, the two bullies are best friends though, as are their mums. He is certain he didn't swear, he admits he was upset but didn't shout.

The very next day after the incident the two children bullied dd again at school (if dh had terrified them would they do this?)

I collected dd myself yesterday and there was a police officer in the playground presumably waiting for dh to attempt to pick up dd.

We feel that they are victimising our family as we have found dd another school and they were already aware we are very unhappy about the two years of bullying dd has endured.

We feel they are attempting to smear dh's character. I have requested a meeting with the Head and said that their account is incorrect. However with teachers singing off the same hymn sheet, one of which the Head is having an affair with - (I know this through a teachers friend who used to work there). We feel we don't have a leg to stand on - they are definitely closing ranks. I am stressed but dh is very calm he just says ' I have done nothing wrong'.

The Head who is married, is recommending the assistant head (his lover) for headship next year. It is very hard to take him seriously when he is so obviously immoral and corrupt.

I know that dh shouldn't have spoken to the bully but it was a spur of the moment thing. Our dd has been upset for so long you just feel enough is enough especially when the school has been so unsupportive.

My main concern to be honest is the slur on our family and this account following them on to their next school.

If you have got this far thanks for reading, I really would appreciate your thoughts on this.

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flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 14:11

I don't know the parent governors, I lost interest in the school a long time ago, eldest dd was bullied (sorted now) although was beaten up a few months ago
and basically I gave up on the school

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AgentZigzag · 29/06/2010 14:16

Are there any other parents who have children this has happened to?

Would you feel comfortable talking to them about helping change your school? This would share the load and double the 'power' you have.

flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 14:20

I have found one other parent who these children are bullying as well and she has complained twice with no satisfactory conclusion. I will be talking to her further and she is happy to support me i agree there is power in numbers for sure.

There is another parent who has a dd in yr 6 that is being bullied and the school are doing nothing about that either, she says she will be going to the Governors when her dd leaves as she doesn't want any recriminations.

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edam · 29/06/2010 14:21

Flab, the names and contact details of the governors will be held by the school and may well be on its website, if it has one.

Do feel for you, dh and dd. You have been treated very badly indeed. The teachers involved have failed in their professional and legal responsibilities.

flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 14:23

Thanks edam, there is nothing on their website, so I'll go to the school today and see if I can find out the details, might get them worried, you never know!

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bleedingheart · 29/06/2010 14:36

I don't think you should let things go, it's disgusting the way you have been treated.

I would write a letter to the Chair of Govs, copied to the LEA and I would contact my local MP if I did not receive a satisfactory response.

I really hope your DD enjoys her new school, she sounds like a little star despite all the malicious behaviour she's suffering.

neolara · 29/06/2010 14:42

I would second someone else's suggestion to get a solicitor to write the school a strongly worded letter sayign that if they continue not to prevent your dd being bullied and discriminated against because of her disability, you will sue.

flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 14:43

Thanks bleeding heart, we're very proud of her, she has friends outside of school luckily so it's not all bad.

I wonder if it's worth contacting her Gt Ormond Street who treat her so they can put their twopenneth in?

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flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 14:47

Neolara, we don't have the money to do that unfortunately, as we have taken the decision to have her privately educated for her last two years of primary and are saving every penny. It's a smaller school with a very kind and understanding Head.

It will be a stretch (we're not really in that league) but she has visited the school and found it extremely friendly so I think it's worth it.

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SanctiMoanyArse · 29/06/2010 14:54

Sometimes solicitors offer free 30 minute appts so you'd only pay letter fee, though these are getting ahrder to find but see if there is a disability advocacy charity in your area (via CAB)- they may be able to write letter anyway.

i just wanted to offer , sadly these close ranks and lie things are really common on the SN threads; if you have a disabled dd wyou might find others with similar experiences there. And we've experienced the crap eprson gets job bit too- although in our case the Chair of Governors had final say according to some rule (VA School) and he was related to new staff memebr so appointed her against will of all school staff and LEA (and she was truly, truly horrid)

flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 14:57

Thank you for the hugsx I'll look into the CAB thing.

Re the job thing it's so sleazy it stinks.

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flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 14:59

Right I'm off to do the school run wonder if our resident copper will be there!

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flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 16:26

No policeman this time just the caretaker and school nurse manning the gate!

Another girl was questioned about the bullying of dd and they backed up what dd said so we shall see what happens.

Bully1 mother was in class today and said to bully2 in front of dd 'she's in to get dd into trouble' and then they lauged' They make me sick.

I got the Governors list, two of them being Head and his crumpet one of them the Head's admin side kick - I don't stand a chance.

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flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 16:28

Oops I meant tosay Bully1 said 'she's in to get dd into trouble' not the mother

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sarah293 · 29/06/2010 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CantSupinate · 29/06/2010 19:14

omg, they cannot "ban" your DH on the back of that single comment; there's been no due process to the whole thing. They must not be allowed to get away with it. It takes things like restraining orders (in a court of law) to ban parents at our school.

You should name and shame the school here, OP. The situation is ridiculous.

stripeyknickersspottysocks · 29/06/2010 19:26

On your DD's last day when you pick her up if you see these nasty bullies in the playground I'd be tempted to tear a verbal strip off them. Let them know exactly what a pair of horrible cows they are and how they've upset your DD so much that she's leaving. Don't think I'd hold back much. School can't exactly do anything if its the last day.

expatinscotland · 29/06/2010 19:31

I agree with Riven. I'd also have logged every single incident, then sent the entire thing with covering letter to my MP AND the local paper.

I'd look into Legal Aid, too, to sue the council.

Two girls who were bullied to the point of being physically assaulted with injuries at school in both Fife and Aberdeenshire Council were awarded Legal Aid to sue over their schools' and police force's inaction, one even wound up on Panorama, she'd gone into the head's office wired and with a hidden camera.

You can better believe the council and school took it seriously after they got bad press and sued!

jonicomelately · 29/06/2010 19:32

Why would they instantly beleive the word of a nine year old over a grown man? They are nuts. I would pull out every stop. You have to protect not only your dd but your dh's reputation. I would consult a solicitor or evn approach your MP.

activate · 29/06/2010 19:33

Well I'm sorry but no adult should enter a school and make contact with a 9 year old, no matter what the provocation

not surprised he's banned from the school - that was totally inappropriate

that siad I agree with all the other advice - i writing to Governors - outlining whole history

I would avoid rumour and speculation though - it will make you look mad quite frankly, stick to what you know, how the school has failed you

expatinscotland · 29/06/2010 19:33

And it is totally worth contacting Great Ormond Street!

And any and ALL, disabled rights charities to get them on board.

We need to work together here. My daughter is SN/ASD. I was put on this Earth to make sure she always has someone on her side, me.

Start logging. EVERY single incident. Record where you can. And just put it out there, MP, the press, whatever.

kittens · 29/06/2010 19:37

The complaints committee has to be impartial and will not contain the head- only governors and one of them has to be from another school. I know this as we have just written our complaints policy.

I would contact the chair of governors and get them involved. As the governing body also hires the new head if you think there is something fishy going on there let the chair know.

DinahRod · 29/06/2010 20:25

have mailed you flabulousdarling

flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 20:29

Thanks once again for all your opinions. It has been a real boost to have so much support. I am going to see if I can bring a local Councillor with an interest in disability rights and Education into the meeting - I have been told that the Head is a bit of a bully and will run rings around us, hopefully someone will be willing to accompany us. Outing the affair is a no no, words can't describe how I feel towards that Head now but I am not going down that road.

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flabulousdarling · 29/06/2010 20:32

Thanks Dinah email sent

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