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Original poster

Police involvement

59 replies

MarmaladeSun · 08/01/2006 23:23

Hi. I went to pick up my 8 year old son from school on Friday, and found to my horror that his nose was really swollen. A 10 year old boy had attacked him in the playground, unprovoked, and had lifted my sonh off his feet, flipped him upside down, and smashed his face so hard into the playground that his nose swelled up, his nose bled, apparently he vomited (but he can't remember it) and he was giddy. He screamed, but no staff came to his aid. He was only dealt with when his friends led him to a teacher. My daughter asked was I not to be called and they said no. He didn't see a first aider, and despite being excused from PE for being dizzy and sick was left unattended in the library while his class were at PE. At no point was I called to the school to pick him up. After school I demanded answers from the deputy head who tried to gloss over it (the head was off sick). We then spent 3 hours at A&E to ascertain whether he has a broken nose, but we won't know until the swelling has gone down.
This is the 3rd time in a year I have had to complain about bullying at the school. A monthago my daughter was scared to go to school after being intimidated by a group of 10.
I was (and am) so furious that I went to the police station and reported this boy for this assault. He is above the age for criminal responsibility and the police will be interviewing him tomorrow. He has been suspended before, and apparently makes a habit of punching pupils in the face.
The school don't know I have reported it to the police yet, and I am going with hubby to see the head tomorrow.
I can't believe that I send my kids to a place day in day out where they should be safe and I end up spending the evening at casualty. I know the school won't be happy but it's gone too far.

OP posts:
starlover · 08/01/2006 23:25

that's awful MS!!! i think i would have done the same as you!
your poor son

colditz · 08/01/2006 23:27

That is dreadful and I don't think you have over reacted at all.

starlover · 08/01/2006 23:28

ui can't believe how the school have handled it... no first aider? that's really dreadful...

mummygow · 08/01/2006 23:29

How awful - it must have been bad if he cant even remember being sick - poor wee soul!!

Sallystrawberry · 08/01/2006 23:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

madrose · 08/01/2006 23:31

That is absolutely shocking - your poor son, must make you fell like keeping them at home. You've done the right thing by informing the police. I teach at Secondary and our hands are so tied by governers/appeals etc when it comes to discplining children, that any sort of assault the parents are encouraged to go to the police. 1 the parents of said attacker are more likely to take it serioulsy and deal with child, 2 it provides extra evidence to have that child dealt with by the governers.
I really feel for you, we have children and we just want to protect them, schools are suppose to be safe - but even working in one that isn't that bad really makes me feel like home schooling my dd and she's not even 1 yet.

madrose · 08/01/2006 23:31

That is absolutely shocking - your poor son, must make you fell like keeping them at home. You've done the right thing by informing the police. I teach at Secondary and our hands are so tied by governers/appeals etc when it comes to discplining children, that any sort of assault the parents are encouraged to go to the police. 1 the parents of said attacker are more likely to take it serioulsy and deal with child, 2 it provides extra evidence to have that child dealt with by the governers.
I really feel for you, we have children and we just want to protect them, schools are suppose to be safe - but even working in one that isn't that bad really makes me feel like home schooling my dd and she's not even 1 yet.

madrose · 08/01/2006 23:32

That is absolutely shocking - your poor son, must make you fell like keeping them at home. You've done the right thing by informing the police. I teach at Secondary and our hands are so tied by governers/appeals etc when it comes to discplining children, that any sort of assault the parents are encouraged to go to the police. 1 the parents of said attacker are more likely to take it serioulsy and deal with child, 2 it provides extra evidence to have that child dealt with by the governers.
I really feel for you, we have children and we just want to protect them, schools are suppose to be safe - but even working in one that isn't that bad really makes me feel like home schooling my dd and she's not even 1 yet.

sparklymieow · 08/01/2006 23:32

I actually would have done the same, I did threaten to report a child to the police when she put a skipping rope round my son's neck and pulled it so tight he had rope burns on his neck. DH went to the school with pictures of DS's neck and told the head that if he didn't sort it out, we would call the police. Ds was 6 at the time and so was the other child, the bullying had been going on for a while, and that was the final straw for us. Thankfully the school did get things sorted.

madrose · 08/01/2006 23:33

oops button on stupid computer got stuck

Caligula · 08/01/2006 23:45

I'd also make a complaint to the governors.

There's obviously no supervision going on in the playground if no-one noticed a child vomiting after being punched.

Sallystrawberry · 08/01/2006 23:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MarmaladeSun · 09/01/2006 16:57

Hi all.
Well, DH and I went to the school this morning. Thehead was still off sick, so we spoke to another member of staff who maintained that there was no bullying problem, and that this wasn't bullying...more like a playground scuffle etc etc...DH is not the sort to be put in his place so he really went to town; said he wants to see the first aid certificates of the teacher who decided my son didn't need medical attention etc...The school called the head in to investigate and he called me and I went in. He admitted that there had been a catalogue of errors
and that the school had reviewed it's procedures and that in future EVERY case of head injury would be reported to the parents immediately. I must admit I figured that was the norm anyway! When my son was excused for PE on the grounds of feeling dizzy, the teacher sent him alone to sit in the library but failed to notify the secretary of his injury, so there was no one to keep an eye on him! It was a HUGE break down of communication. They haven't yet spoken to the lad's parents (!!!) as they are waiting to speak to the teacher involved who wasn't in today. he will, I am told, be excluded but I don't know how long for. As far as I know the police have yet to do anything. So that's where we are up to now!

OP posts:
starlover · 09/01/2006 16:59

any child with a head injury who has been sick and feels dizzy should be taken to hospital IMO...

it isn't just a case of letting parents know (although obv they should!) but of taking care of the pupils!

Hulababy · 09/01/2006 17:15

Your poor son How is he now?

You absolutely did the right thing. I am so fed up of the way schools gloss over assaults on pupils, and staff, when things happen on school premisies. Schools so often want to deal with even big issues themselves, without outside agencies - and as a result, the assailant gets away scot free, and the victim is forgotton. I am so glad that you were able to do this. I hope this bully boy gets a suitable punishment, and that this encounter with the police give both him, his parents and the school the wake up call they need.

mummytosteven · 09/01/2006 17:16

Hula - should all schools have an anti-bullying policy these days?

MS - think you are absolutely right in going to the police, and am disgusted at the way your son has been treated by the school.

MeerkatsUnite · 09/01/2006 17:18

Marmalade Sun

This school has shown a complete lack of care with regards to your son.

Any school that says that there is no bullying problem is lying in my view.

Would think that this this child will be expelled again but perhaps only for a week or two. Permanent explusion may not yet happen.

When do you expect to hear from the Police re this assault?. I would certainly say your son has been assaulted and school cannot wash their hands of the matter.

www.bullying.org.uk has useful information if you have not already heard of them and they also offer a helpline facility by e-mail.

I wish you and your family well.

MeerkatsUnite · 09/01/2006 17:20

Correction re website

Its www.bullying.co.uk

alexsmum · 09/01/2006 17:25

i am so shocked by this- this is absolutely terrible! your poor boy.
at my sons school any slight bump to the head is reported with a note in his school bag and usually a word from the teacher at the end of the day.
i would be looking for a different school if i was you. i really wouldn't feel safe leaving my children in the care of such incompetents.

Hulababy · 09/01/2006 17:28

mts - yes they should. I thought it was compulsary TBH, and I am sure it should always be available to read by parents, etc.

Caligula · 09/01/2006 17:40

I'm really surprised they are so slapdash about informing parents. At my DS's school, I think we get little slips of paper telling us of the slightest injury - sometimes OTT imo, I really don't need to know every time he falls over. But that's the arse-covering culture. I'm always amazed that there are still institutions out there who appear to be unaware of how the rest of the world behaves about such things.

And whoever said a head injury followed by vomiting is automatically an A&E number is right; if I didn't take my DS to A&E after such an injury, I'm pretty sure the school would have SS out to me! How can your DS's school be so unaware? It's really, really odd.

Piffle · 09/01/2006 17:59

That is appalling lack of responsibility from the school, and you are not voer reacting, my ds was accidentally pushed over by an older boy and had arm was broken, even though the lad did not mean to really hurt him, we still called the police on him, he was under 14 but got a caution and a bollocking off his mother.
That child should be excluded unless the school can give him one to one assistant.

mummydear · 09/01/2006 18:15

MS - if not done already get photos taken of your sons injuries, police should do this aswell.
Chase police up about this, important to record injuries , medical note wise & photos.

i would imagine that the police would want to take a form of statement of your son at some stage, which because of his age may be video recorded. Have the police explianed to you fully what will happen ?

I do hope your son is OK, school is well out of order. A complaint to OFTED wouldn't go a miss aswell.

sunnydelight · 09/01/2006 18:17

How awful for your son and you, you are absolutely not overreacting. I can't believe you weren't phoned to come and get him - that's totally negligent. I hope you get some joy from the police, meanwhile (not sure if anyone else has suggested this) I think you should make a formal complaint to the Chair of Governors at the school about how the incident was delt with.

Blu · 09/01/2006 18:23

MarmaladeSun - your poor boy - I hope he recovers v quickly. What a terrifying thing to happen to an 8 year-old.

I am glad that the Head, at least, recognises that errors were made, so perhaps will make sure that in future the school reacts more responsibly.

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