Head in the sand (From The Oxford Times)

Head in the sand

8:00am Thursday 11th March 2010 in Letters

Sir – My sympathies go to Samantha Barson who has problems with a child being bullied at an Oxford school. We had a similar experience ten years ago, at a different Oxford school, right down to attempts to intimidate the parents to prevent them from making a fuss. Actually, isn’t that bullying too? We, too, were assured that bullying in the school was rare and quickly and effectively dealt with, but once we had given up and withdrawn our son to home-school him, we met a number of other families who had had similar experience to ours.

I suspect that any claims from the school that they handle such matter effectively will be easily disproved if Mrs Barson cares to ask around. I would say to Mrs Barson that, while the school is probably more effective at resisting criticism that she is at providing it, I hope she will persevere.

There is certainly bullying in Oxford schools and the schools have a very effective “head in the sand” policy for blocking all attempts to get it dealt with effectively.

I believe that some children do well at Oxford schools, but some do not because they are bullied. It is a lottery. We lost. I hope Mrs Barson doesn’t.

P J Cresswell, Oxford