Our son is in his GCSE year and had several years of bullying at his school. He has been dragged by his tie, pushed, called a faggot online, told he doesn’t deserve human rights, has to listen to boys saying being gay isn’t natural and is disgusting etc, etc. He says he is mocked most weeks. The school talks the talk(has done assemblies and arranged mentoring now and again)but it never seems to go away.
Our son has cut himself off from friends, doesn’t care about his future, can’t focus on work (causing his grades to drop), is very anxious, unhappy and full of self hatred.
Got weeks to wait for a gp appointment and getting hold of the school counsellor is a nightmare. He is bright and under achieving in most areas. He is having support lessons in school out side of class to get his grades where they should be. I am annoyed that the actions of others have caused this.
He is now saying he wants to drop out completely and there is no point doing GCSEs or going to uni as he doesn’t care about any of it. He insists he isn’t suicidal.
I feel the school should be doing something, but what? He drags himself in and puts on a brave face because we make him. I don’t want him to drop out or move him risking his education even more because it seems so unfair.
I can’t believe that in his day age a school can just carry on accommodating this. Is there anything we should expect them to be doing? What can we do to get it sorted? Are they under any obligation to make it stop?
Literally at our wits end. Doing everything at home to help him but really starting to struggle. Please advise.
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At my wits end- homophobic bullying, what should we expect the school to do?
L0gCab1n2 · 02/10/2019 21:12
Head of year spoke to him today about this week’s incident which I outlined in an email last night. Still investigating last week’s incident though so won’t hold my breath. I’ve heard nothing.Counsellor can only see him next week during one of his catch up sessions but suggested us paying for private, ringing Young Minds or going to the gp.
I’ve booked the gp but still got a 3 week wait and I guess months after that. Can’t afford private as we’re paying shed loads for his school bus and actually why should we pay for something somebody else has caused. He wanted to stay there for A levels.
The physical attack was some time ago. I think we threatened police if he was physically attacked again. Think it was a hair pull the next time, then nothing physical( will have to check). Had cyber instead, called a faggot by a boy he didn’t know by text.
Heard back. They are denying there is a problem. Bit odd as the teacher he spoke to says he didn’t say he was mocked daily to dispute there being an issue.
Ds says he said he’s mocked a couple of times a week and hears homophobic language daily. Teacher has suggested a meeting with SMT to discuss his “progress”. But worried that is going to be used to deny a problem and suggest he go elsewhere unrecorded ie not on paper.
The email didn’t answer my questions re what they were doing to stamp it out, policy etc.
In process of replying and repeating the questions. Not heard from dep head.
They definitely think I’m ‘that’ parent, could tell by the tone.
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