Former students call for end of ‘bullying culture’ at town school
FORMER STUDENTS of a North Yorkshire school have issued it with a litany of anti-bullying recommendations, saying homophobia, sexism and racism and bigotry towards working class pupils went unchallenged by some teachers there for many years.
In an open letter, members of Conscious Raising Ryedale group called for an overhaul of bullying policies and strategies at Lady Lumley’s School in Pickering, after a highly critical Ofsted report which rated the school as inadequate.
Following the Ofsted report this month, the school said it had introduced measures to tackle the issues Ofsted highlighted, but continued to question whether the findings relating to unchecked bullying were accurate.
A joint letter to parents from headteacher Richard Bramley and chair of governors Stephen Croft posed the question: “When you read the report, did it sound like the school your son or daughter goes to?”
After introducing an interim board for the school, North Yorkshire County Council said it had “zero tolerance of bullying or prejudiced behaviour of any kind” in the schools it runs, and there have been claims that the information Ofsted inspectors received was not representative of the wider school community.
However, members of Conscious Raising Ryedale said Ofsted’s concerns were a fair reflection of the school, and called for it to learn from ex-students’ experiences to offer solidarity to current students. In a series of testimonies, members of the group, described “intensive, dayto-day bullying” at the school, with one recalling how teachers had “joined in with laughter”, leaving “a lasting sense of insecurity over who I am, low selfesteem,
Letter to parents from headteacher Richard Bramley and chair of governors Stephen Croft and a variety of mental health issues”.
Another pupil spoke about the “systemic homophobia and bullying culture in the school”.
The recommendations include a full review of the school’s anti-bullying policy and for it to be reviewed yearly until Ofsted rates the school good in areas which impact bullying.
The former students’ group said the school needed to implement an adequate reporting system, a more robust monitoring process and for the school to publish its findings, establishing regular school-wide events and introducing a code of ethical behaviour.
North Yorkshire County Councillor for Pickering Greg White said it was important to allow the school’s new governance to take effect.
Earlier this month it was reported that The Grammar School at Leeds said it “deeply regretted” accusations that two black former students had experienced abuse at the school. The school said the racism is contrary to the school’s values.
Did the report sound like the school your son or daughter goes to?