An 11-year-old girl who has suffered horrendous bullying has been denied a school placing request despite previously being allegedly threatened with a knife.
The St Catherine's pupil had applied to Saint Roch's in Royston instead of the All Saint's to avoid cruel peers in the Barmulloch area who have ruined her last years in primary school with constant threats and abuse.
During one incident in November, the student was chased from a playpark at Croy Road by a youth who told her they had a knife, Glasgow Live reports.
The following month, the girl's family got a call from the school to come and collect her after the same bully was given a police warning for threatening to go the primary and hunt her down. Officers even said that the P7 pupil shouldn't go out to play in the street, which her family felt was an unfair suggestion given that she is the victim.
In the hopes of helping their daughter avoid further torment in high school, her parents submitted a placing request for out of catchment St Roch’s.
However, in response they received an an “upsetting” and impersonal letter saying their request had been rejected.
Despite explaining their bullying concerns, the family received a general response which didn’t address the child’s 'individual needs', according to a councillor.
Councillor Audrey Dempsey said: “She has been a victim for three years to the point that police have been involved. She is lacking in confidence and doesn’t go on school trips. She is full of dread going out the door in the morning.”
Springburn and Robroyston Labour councillors Audrey Dempsey and Thomas Rannachan are advocating for parents in the area who are struggling to find ‘suitable’ school places. They want an overhaul of how placing requests are considered.
Councillor Dempsey called for a more personalised approach for letters sent to parents during placing requests and for individual needs to be prioritised throughout the process. She said she has been told the communication is the responsibility of the Scottish Government and believes it is not in line with Holyrood’s commitment to Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC).
Commenting on the St Roch’s placing request letter of refusal she said: “It is a standard response that is not tailored. It makes no sense to the individual child or parents.”
The letter said the request was denied for several of reasons, including that it “would be seriously detrimental to the educational well-being of pupils attending the school.”
Councillor Dempsey said that such a statement in reference to a child is “alarming for parents to read” and the wording is a “disgrace.” She added that the child looking to go to St Roch’s “doesn’t get into bother and keeps herself to herself” and was receiving top marks before the bullying started.
The refusal letter did not mention St Roch’s was oversubscribed but said the authority “would require to employ another teacher” and the “accommodation at the school would have to be altered with significant money spent.”
Councillor Rannachan described the process as a like a “computer says no” scenario.
He said: “It appears to be looking at lists” and called for a “more personalised” approach for “individual children.”
A council spokeswoman said: “We know that placing request refusals are upsetting for families but when our schools are at capacity we are left with no option but to follow the statutory placing request criteria to make the process fair and equitable to everyone in the city.
“Responses to families must follow the legal requirements set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 28A.
“Families can of course use their right to appeal the decision where they would be able to make their case to the appeal board.”
St Roch’s S1 intake is at capacity and all placing requests were considered together.
The Scottish Government declined to comment.
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