settling into a new sixth form

[mayburymum]

my daughter has just started boarding at a top public school in the sixth form. She is very much enjoying the school and making friends within her classes, however it is a different story within her house. She is feeling excluded by some of the other girls and is finding it hard to cope with constant aggressive teasing by one of the boys in particular.Does anyone have any tips on how my daughter can best cope with this situation as I feel helpless and unsure of what advice to give her without making things worse. My first reaction is to contact the housemaster, but I am not sure that is the rigt thing to do at this point. Any help please as to how I can help my daughter?

Bump - because I really think someone should answer! I guess the housemaster is the person to contact - his job is to sort out the misery she is going through - especially as a NEW PUPIL! If he is the person you are told to contact re her welfare. Check with her if she's OK with that, but I think 'aggressive teasing' is what we'd all call bullying. Advice generally is sort it sooner the better - even moving houses this early in the term can be effective. 6th form is a very intensive time and she needs to be able to settle and start work.

Hope it's sorted. Neither of you deserve this!

The housemaster and promptly. Both types of behaviour you describe are bullying and need to be stamped on quickly. Poor girl.

In addition, try to get her to focus on the more open girls and other boys as it is easy to overlook the majority of kinder teenagers in the face of real or perceived exclusion which might be practised by "Queen Bee" types.

Does the school have inter-House competitions? Does your daughter have something that she excels in? If she can be the one that wins (or helps win) the dancing/badminton/whatever Cup for the House then that will make her more popular and accepted.

Or, as a last resort, if she has made friends in other Houses can she ask to move House?