Disruptive Classmate

[betterman]

Hi, I'm posting this with regards to my 7 year old son, he has a very disruptive classmate(gethin) who seems to especially concentrate his efforts on my son, constantly trying to get him into trouble, and this usually works to the effect that my son gets the telling off from the teacher and the other kid gets away with it, he steals things and puts them in my sons draw at school, my son comes home crying most days saying that gethin is constantly following him, tripping him up etc..., Gethin is well known to the staff at the school for this bad behaviour and his mother who brings him up on her own is constantly being called into the school about this.

I have raised this issue with the head mistress who and told her that I want them kept apart, this was a few weeks back, everything was fine for a week or so until the headmistress called me into her to office for an update, she said that gethin had now made friends with my son and that she thought that was the best way forward, I wasnt particularly happy with this but thought I would give it a chance, well I have give it a chance and its still going on, when I pick him up at the end of the school day the teacher tells me that there have been a few incidents involving my son and gethin and that they have had to discipline him, they have even told me that they have told my son to stay away from gethin, but my son insists that Gethin is constantly on his case and he cant go nowhere without Gethin following him, he comes home crying, saying he wants to learn but he cant concentrate enough because Gethin is distracting in any way he can, its getting more difficult to get my son to school in the morning because of this.

So its come to the point where I feel that I have to go and see the head mistress again, but what do I say this time to get a better result than latime?st

[Cruciformist]

See the Head and, if the outcome of your conversation is still unsatisfactory, then say "I would like this matter referred to the school governors."

[betterman]

Thank You.

[Cruciformist]

In the meantime, betterman, you could find out who the parent-governor is, and contact him/her and tell him/her of the situation. He/she may be able to put pressure informally on the Head to take some positive action.
(40 years a teacher!)

[mallyh]

i would ask them to move my son to another class wher he will make other friends

[Cruciformist]

A further thought, having read you post again - ask the Head, "What is your policy for dealing with bullying?"

[Mosaic]

Simple question along with Cruciformist's excellent suggestion to request a copy of their anti-bullying policy :
why does my child have come off worse while you are not addressing this child's problems?