Rose Hill bullying petition gets 100 names (From Oxford Mail)

Rose Hill bullying petition gets 100 names

7:55pm Sunday 14th March 2010 in

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A PARENT has launched a petition to highlight bullying problems she claims are blighting her son’s school.

So far Samantha Barson has collected more than 100 signatures from parents with children at Rose Hill Primary School, Oxford.

She said the petition would be delivered by herself and other parents to Oxfordshire County Council’s headquarters at County Hall.

The petition says: “This is a petition against bullying at Rose Hill Primary School.

“As you know, the board of governors does not agree there is an issue.

“This petition is to show that bullying is a problem and we want it stopped now before any more children are hurt.”

The mum-of-five, from St Martin’s Road, claims she was forced to start the petition because nobody at the school would admit there was a problem.

It follows a campaign by Mrs Barson on Facebook which saw her threatened with legal action by school governors if any defamatory comments were made about Sue Mortimer, the headteacher of the 320-pupil school.

Mrs Barson said: “I have been forced to do this and I will present it to Oxfordshire County Council with other parents by my side.

“The reaction at the school gates has been incredible so far.

“If this is the only way we can make the school see sense and realise our children are terrified of the bullying epidemic going on in the playground, then so be it.”

Mrs Barson, who claims her son was pinned to the floor and had his arm jumped on last week, added: “Nobody ever wanted it to come to this.

“All we are asking is that Mrs Mortimer and the governors accept this is a problem and sit down with us to try to work out what can be done.

“We don’t want to be arguing through the newspapers. All we are interested in is making sure our kids are safe when they go to school.”

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Louise Mendonca said: “The school has offered parents the chance to meet staff and governors to discuss their concerns.

“The county council hopes to see this invite taken up.

“The school has a well-established and firm anti-bullying policy and the council does not have any concerns about the management of the school.”

She added: “The only way that this matter will be solved is for people to meet and talk.

“In the end it is in the interests of the whole school community for concerns to be met to everyone’s satisfaction.”

Mrs Barson, a former teacher, urged the school to start co-operating.

She said: “Now is the time for us all to talk and take things forward.

“I am fed up with seeing my son upset after suffering from disgusting bullying, or using physical violence against his brothers because he now sees it as the right way to behave.

“This has got to stop now.”

Mrs Mortimer has refused to comment, despite repeated requests by the Oxford Mail.

Governors Ali Akkas and Robin Gill also declined to answer direct questions, but did send a letter to the Oxford Mail.