Son kept at home in school bully row

3:53am Thursday 1st May 2008

• Play Video

A mother has removed her seven-year-old son from school after a two-year bullying campaign because she says nothing has been done about it.

She has also discovered that he has been designated as having special needs, but had never been told about it by the school.

Cindy Wildeman says son James Wadby suffered serious physical and verbal assaults while a pupil at Parkland Primary in Greengates, Bradford.

Parkland Primary acting head teacher Sue Henderson said: "The ethos of the school does not accept bullying. The school has clear anti-bullying policies in place and treats all bullying incidents seriously."

Miss Wildeman claims she spoke to staff at the school "more than 20 times" after James reported being "hit with sticks and spat at" by other pupils, causing him to suffer "panic attacks and stomach cramps".

She called experts at Education Bradford for help, only to be informed, to her amazement, that James had been classified as a special needs pupil.

Miss Wildeman has now pulled James and his younger sister Alyssa, four, from the school after deciding the pair would be better served being educated at home.

She said: "I have reported the bullying to receptionists and teaching staff and have been down to see the current head and the previous one. My son used to come home with bruises and also on most nights had panic attacks and stomach cramps from nerves of thinking he was going to school the following day.

"There was a group of children bullying him. It has gone on for about two years now but nothing has been done about it."

Miss Wildeman, of Orchard Grove, Greengates, said James had even told his grandmother that "he wanted to die" after the episodes of bullying began.

She added she had been left "stunned" after being informed that James had been classed as a special needs youngster, although she claims she has not yet been told exactly what his special needs are.

"This came as quite a shock," said Miss Wildeman. "I have never been told this by Parkland Primary. I find it appalling that the school have failed to tell me."

Miss Wildeman met Parkland Primary School staff yesterday to discuss whether anything could be done to help James, but remains unimpressed.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: "I still have not been told exactly what his special needs are. I have now asked for him to be assessed. The head said she wanted James to return to school because all his classmates are missing him. But James has said there is no way he is going back."

An Education Bradford spokesman added: "We are working with the family and the school to resolve these issues."

The spokesman declined to comment on whether James had been given a statement - given to children with specific educational needs - and would not give details on what his special needs were.

Kath Tunstall, Bradford Council's strategic director of services to children and young people, said: "It would be inappropriate to comment on individual situations which are currently under discussion between the school and the family.

Samaritans spokesman Kate Redway said "seven was quite young" for a child to be thinking about his own death.

She said: "Each year, an average of 40 children under 15 years of age commit suicide in the UK and Ireland. Bullying in schools is a big problem. Children should speak first to family, friends or their school if they are concerned about bullying."

Stuart Herdson, past national president and Bradford branch secretary of union the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said it was "very rare" for a seven-year-old to talk about death.

Miss Wildeman's daughter, Alyssa, has been given a place at Thackley Primary from September. James has yet to find a place at a school.

The Samaritans' 24-hour freephone hotline is open to children and adults on 08457 909090.