School bullying and moving to Interhigh

[Afrikasmum]

My son is at an independent school and in GCSE O level year. He is being badly bullied - would you believe it by the TEACHERS!!! I am seriously concerned now for his mental health and we have taken the family decision to apply to Interhigh. My problem is that we are supposed to give a terms notice at this school or we are required to pay for another term. I really don't feel inclined to do this but I don't want a war either. Does anyone have any advice?

In most private schools, you will have signed a contract which says you are required to give a full term's notice, or have to pay fees for that whole term. It's a legal contract, and I'd bet it doesn't have any get-out clauses about their standards or even basic stuff like them not bullying your child.

So, sorry, but you are in a tricky legal position if you refuse to pay up. You could maybe try to claim against them for their behaviour, but I think it would have to be outstandingly awful for a court to find in your favour.

You might get people with more experience over in Education rather than HE, as the position would be the same no matter what your future plans were. I've see threads a few times, and I can't recall anyone managing to get out of paying.

Thanks. I know it seems pretty hopeless. We struggle badly to pay for him anyway and I am so furious that this is an very bad comprehensive school masquerading as an independent school. He missed a lesson in Chemistry, attempted the experiment the following week anyway and asked "Sir, is this right?" He was then bawled at "What the bloody hell is that?". Other insults include "Oi you with the bad haircut", "You with the girl's hair", "If you don't book to go on the trip I've arranged you might find your grades not as good as you expected". A friend of his, who is a Tao Buddhist and was wearing a religious necklace discreetly under his uniform was asked if he was wearing his sister's necklace. The same boy was mocked for wearing a sun-hat. On top of everything else I find out by researching on the internet that three of the teachers aren't trained teachers at all. They've come from somewhere outside teaching and done a "short course". Unfortunately the headmaster, who is a nice man, just seems completely oblivious to wha's going on in his school.