Safety at Sceondary school - What can I do?

[CardyMow]

Today at my DD's school, one of the girls in her class beat up another girl, quite severely. To the point where the victim could not breathe, and an ambulance was called, and the girl taken away on a stretcher - this isn't just my DD telling me, I'm close friends with one of the mid-day assistants, and she told me before my DD did.

The police were also called by the school. The thing is, this girl attacked my DD in the lunch hall last year, she strangled my DD for 'looking at her funny'. The school persuaded me not to call the police by putting this girl in Isolation for two weeks. She has also 'tripped up' my DD on numerous occasions, to the point where my DD has had bruised shins etc.

Today's incident happened on the school field - but the Mid-day assistants did not get there in time to prevent the victim from getting seriously hurt. I am worried that after a few weeks, this girl will be allowed back into the main population of the school again, and I fear that they cannot guarantee the safety of the other pupils, my DD included, while this girl is attending the school.

I cannot take my DD out of the school - there is not another secondary in our town with spaces in this year group, some pupils in DD's year have been sent out of County for secondary, as it's such a large year group.

I do not know what to do, as I do not feel safe sending my DD to school while this girl is on the school site. How do I go about talking to the school to tell them I want them to either GUARANTEE my DD is at no risk from this girl, or to permanently exclude this girl? In today's incident, this girl punched the other in the chest - if she did that to my DD, who has a heart problem, she could KILL my DD. Hence my worry. I don't feel that a short-term exclusion will help, as this girl has had many many of them, and her violence is escalating.

Apparently, today's incident was because the violent girl believed that her victim had been 'dissing her family'. So her reaction is very excessive for the victim's 'percieved' crime.

I feel scared that the same thing will happen to my DD. I moved my DD's primary school when she was 6yo because this girl attacked her with a pair of scissors, and the school refused to exclede her or even keep her in at breaktimes, and despite moving to the other side of my town, they have ended up at the same secondary school. In the same sets, as violent girl has no interest in learning, and my DD has SEN.

Help me, I'm scared my DD will end up in hospital or worse. What do I do??

all colleges have course to suit 14-16 year olds (they get more funding for this) they just don't advertise it!

In terms of places at other schools (I am currently commenting on another thread regarding appeals) unfortunately, when it comes down to admittance of another student (especially in these circumstances) if a school has capacity in their general numbers, they can not say no to a managed transfer.... (believe me, as a HoY in a full year group, but the school has general capacity in other year groups I have had to accommodate a managed transfer into my year)

Ah, so maybe a possibility. Bloody hope so. I'm just so worried that if they let this girl back into the school, it'll be my DD targetted next. If I contacted the school, would they be allowed to tell this girl or her mother (who would tell the girl) that it was me (as in my DD's mum) who had writted a letter? Because if so, and then she is allowed back into the school, won't that just basically paint a target on my DD?

Okay. In your situation I would talk to my DD, and find out if this girl has be bothering her, paying any kind o attention to her recently.
I would also get my DD to keep a diary of any bullying that happens. I would also write to the police to inform them of the event that happened with your DD last year.

Finally you may well be able to get a place at another school in your town, if you really wanted, on appeal. It doesn't matter that they are full, appeal can force them to tak an extra pupil and bullying and safety are strong concerns for an appeal.

But if it is the best school, I would probably write to the Chair of governors and tell them about the previous incident. If the girl is excluded, then almost certainly one of the other schools in your town will be forced to take her (even if they are full). However if the school has not taken steps to start the long road to exclussion in place yet, they could be delayed in doing so now.

The phrase you want to use in your letters is to ask "how is the school safeguarding the well being" of your daughter. You could also forward any letters to OFSTED, and tell them you are, just to make sure this is not swept under the carpet.

You could use the phrase 'in confidence' when you write the letter. This should mean that they only show it to the necessary parties.

In fact, since the case is so severe, it would be fine to put: I would like this letter to be treated with the strictest confidence. It is a significant concern to me that, should [bully] find out I have complained, she will make my daughter an immediate target.

Just spoken to DF who has been a school governor for eleven years at my old (now outstanding) school and is up-to-date with policies.

He suggests you arrange separate meetings with the HT, the Chair of Governors and the SENCO to both put your case forward about your fears for DD and also to ask them what they will be doing. He says if you have separate meetings then the HT doesn't know what you are saying to the Chair and cannot talk over you/airbrush anything. Seems like a good plan since they've been so rubbish previously. If you have any paperwork about the previous incidents you might like to take it with you.

He's confirmed it's the cost of excluding that is likely stopping them. His school is successful and still has money difficulties - it's likely yours is no different. He also said that if a child is in care/has social services involvement it is exceptionally difficult to exclude them. You cannot, as an individual, make them move the bully to the other school but you can present your case in the strongest possible terms - forcing their hand.

If you get no joy with the school then complain to Ofsted. DF says they should be having some kind of governor's meeting about yesterday - maybe give them two weeks (mention it in your letter?) to arrange some kind of plan and then complain.

The other thing he suggested, if you haven't done it already, is to get copies of the exclusion, safeguarding and SEN policies for the school. They are available on request. I think some schools put them online - his keeps hard copies in the school library for parents to look at. They have to give them to you.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you get the best outcome.

So, what DD has told me is that the girl spent 6 hrs in a police cell (this girl's twin brother is also in DD's form class, not as violent as his sister). She is being excluded for 5 days, and will be in isolation for 'a while'. THIS is all they do? The girl who was attacked is out of hospital, has VERY bad bruising on her neck, is on very strong painkillers, will be back at school on MOnday apparently.

HOW is this enough??!! WT actual F??!! Am going to write a letter asking whether my DD will be safe. I have no paperwork over the last incident - was dealt with over the phone. And the paperwork from when DD was 6yo has been lost in the 5 housemoves in the last 7 years! So no personal written 'proof'.

I'm going to write a letter because when I phoned the school, they said they could not discuss this girl with me, due to data protection, unless the girl's MOTHER agreed, and the girl and her mother, me AND my DD were there. Yeah, THAT'LL help?!

That's shockingly poor on behalf of the school.

I would strongly suggest that you try and, in addition to the letter, at least get a meeting with the Chair of Governors. Emphasise that they have a responsibility to your DD and the other students this girl has targeted, who outnumber her so they should be doing the best for the majority.

When she is isolated will she be having her breaks at a different time to the other students? This is a small step which they should easily be able to accommodate and it gives your DD some breathing space whilst you press for something permanent.

Who did you speak to at the school?