Maureen

Thank you once again for highlighting the terrible abuse our children are suffering in schools and our helplessness at trying to prevent this. You have, for the first time drawn attention to the long term effect that relentless "bullying" has on our children.

This is something that you rarely hear about. The last paragraph of you report sums up how useless the whole system is, and again highlights the need for an independent body to stop the cover-ups that takes place in our school. Many thanks for your hard work. Your report is a true representation from someone who is not afraid to "ruffle a few feathers" in order to get to the truth.    A Binding 

In my Annual Report 2008/2009 I took the unusual step of highlighting case histories of two eleven year-olds a male and female who attended local High Schools and their daily abuse by their peers and the handling of same by their schools.

Both Olivia and Rhys were removed out of their toxic environments some two years prior to the release of my annual report 2008/2009, the main reason being for their safety and wellbeing!

Since being removed from their insufferable schools both Rhys and Olivia have excelled themselves to the point that Rhys has secured an academic placement of ‘his choosing’ and started early September 2010 with Olivia not far behind following in Rhys’s footsteps!

Rhys contacted CURB recently to let us know that: -

• “Even though I have only started my placement in the last few weeks the initial impact has been awesome and I am enjoying every seconded of it”

Rhys also informed us that during introduction week that he and his follow students were encouraged to discuss some of the topics that motivated and/or caused them apprehension.  Rhys discussed Bullying and the long term affects this form of abuse has had on him.  On reciting his plight and completing his chronicle of events Rhys received a standing ovation from his fellow students and tutors alike.

Even though Rhys was aware of others in his age group had suffered similar experiences of Bullying during their time in primary and high school he stated he was still: -

• "Stunned to find how many of my new found friends/fellow students had also suffered extreme physical and psychological abuse by their peer and that their school did very little or nothing to alleviate their daily attacks.  I was also shocked to find how many felt as I did that the only way to stop the bullying was to take our life before the bullies did it”

Rhys also stated that: -

•  “Even though I am settling in I can honestly say I am enjoying education for the first time!  I am still very cautious, but I take each day has it arrives”!

Olivia wrote: -

• “I am feeling much stronger now thanks to my mum and dad, but it is still to painful to talk about what those bullies and that school did to me and my family, but I am looking forward to doing somethings now and going out”!

May I assure all the well-wishers whose encouragement and support have helped these two children and their families immensely through their traumatic experiences and I will undertake to continue to relay all good will messages CURB and I are still receiving to date on to the families! 

Maureen

   CURB (Children Under Risk from Bullying)

 An Official Formal Complaint against schools/Headteachers, governors and/or LEA, for their appalling failure in their duty of care to an already vulnerable child is unlikely to make a difference!

Because those that stand accused are the investigators of the complaint against them!     They are the Judge at their own Trial; they are the Jury who decide the Verdict so they will always rule to “unanimously agree not to uphold any official formal complaint”!

It is a while since other local authority departments have had the authority to police themselves; they now have an Independent Complaints Council to which people can address their complaints. But it appears the education sector has not been brought into line with the other departments so parents are unable to obtain a fair and impartial hearing without the fear of schools/Headteachers, Governing Bodies etc. closing ranks!

There should be an independent council that can act on behalf of a child and the family that has the status and power to question and interview all school staff governors etc.!

Maureen Booth-Martin

   CURB (Children Under Risk from Bullying)

CURB’s findings from its’ Annual Statistics from reported cases collated over the twelve month period from May 2008 to May 2009 have found an alarming three percent (3%) of children aged between eleven and eighteen year olds in schools in Cardiff alone have contemplated taking their own life!

However, as these are only CURB’s figures I suspect that the number is far greater!

Therefore, due to these disturbing findings CURB as an organisation has pledged to continue to strive forward with their campaign for an Independent Community Council, to deal with issues surrounding and directly involving education, especially bullying with the view of preventing a possible three percent (3%) successful child suicide rate!

Maureen Booth-Martin

 CURB (Children Under Risk from Bullying)

Most schools appear to house Sixth Form Mentors/Buddy systems. 

A Sixth Form Mentor/Buddy could be a useful ally for a victim of bullying, but doesn’t this put a heavy responsibility on someone who is still only a child themselves and put at risk an already vulnerable victim?

CURB (Children Under Risk from Bullying)

CURB was setup to assist parents who's children are victims of Bullying. 

CURB are fully aware of the devastating effects bullying has on children, but equally important on the family unit generally.    

CURB would welcome your experiences as parents and how you felt the school handled your complaint of Bullying!