'Bullies not dealt with' - mum (From Free Press Series)

'Bullies not dealt with' - mum

A TORFAEN mum has hit out at her son's school for failing to deal with a complaint about bullying properly.

Jayne Burnett says senior staff at Griffithstown Junior School did not handle a violent incident involving her 11-year-old son Daniel effectively, and she is now writing to Torfaen council's director for education Mike de Val.

The 41-year-old complained to the school when Daniel came home with bruises on his face, after he was allegedly punched.

She claims her son and to a lesser extent her daughter Jenna, have suffered verbal harassment for several months. The twin siblings attend a special needs unit in the school.

"It feels like Daniel's the one who is being investigated," said Mrs Burnett, who lives in Abersychan.

"At least two other pupils are picking on him - it's got to the point where he says he doesn't want to go to school," she added.

Head Jeff Hughes said: "We have an anti-bullying policy which is being followed in this case. We are sorry Mrs Burnett feels it has not been dealt with satisfactorily."

But Mrs Burnett says she's angry the investigation took just a day, and that Daniel is the pupil being escorted out of school, while she says one of the pupils accused of bullying was kept inside for "just one day".

She received a letter the day after her complaint which said Daniel had been involved in three fights and that it was "extremely difficult" to determine who had caused the injury.

She added: "It's not being taken seriously at all. He has caused problems in the past, I admit that, but there's been 100 percent improvement in his behaviour. I want to make sure complaints from other children, not just Daniel, are dealt with properly."

Jeff Jones, chair of governors at Griffithstown Junior School said Mrs Burnett had been advised to follow the normal complaints procedure.

"The matter has now been referred to the director for education," he added.