A letter to our MP, copied to the local press, from Jenny Denning, mother of y8 child: Dear Dr Blackman-Woods, As one of your constituents I am writing to you urgently to arrange to meet with parents from The Durham Free School and to listen to what we say about our and our children’s experiences of the school which simply do not match the recent Ofsted report in the terrible and bleak picture it paints, particularly with regards to what it says about bullying and academic standards. In fact this school has become a place of refuge for many many children from horrendous bullying endured at other local schools. I am not talking about name-calling, unacceptable though this is, but violent physical attacks and serious physiological damage. The parents of one mixed race-child have described their son’s “year of hell” at another local school and a father I was speaking to yesterday described how his daughter had been subject to attacks where her arm and leg were broken, and she was left almost blind in one eye. She had to recover in a dark room for three weeks and mercifully her sight was saved. Her parents moved her to The Durham Free School for her protection and to stop the torture. Her father described her to me as “a target for bullies” and said that after starting at the school there were a few incidents but that the staff swiftly and effectively dealt with these, and that now she has no problems with bullying at all and feels in fact, for the first time in her school career feels happy and safe. Another parent, who has been interviewed by the media described to me how their son was medically suicidal due to bullying at local school. Camhs were involved as was a doctor. He would curl up in a corner and refuse to go to school, threaten to end his life and never do any homework. Since starting at The Durham Free School he is up and dressed ready and happy to go to school. He enjoys the period 6 activities and is happy to get down to his homework when he returns. There are SO many more stories like this. Come and speak to us! PLEASE listen to what our parents are saying! Their children need this school, it is their sanctuary and place of refuge. Please do not condemn them to go back to the places where their lives were being destroyed. Indeed many have said they will home-school rather than do this. They should not have to resort to this! You have also received my daughter, Naomi Denning’s letter, to Nicky Morgan. Is this the work of a child who has been badly taught and not able to write an extended piece of writing?! Our teaching staff could not be more committed. They have given everything to these children. It is so wrong that they should be slandered in the way have been. They have done nothing but show tremendous love and support to our children at great personal cost. Is this judgement how they are to be rewarded? No wonder people don’t want to go into the teaching profession! With a general election just around the corner no doubt you are are particularly concerned to be in touch with the feelings in the communities you serve. We know you care about your local people. Please LISTEN to us before it’s too late. I note that our Conservative Candidate for Durham has had the courtesy to respond to our invitation to visit the school and meet with our children, for which I express my heart-felt thanks. Very best wishes, Jennifer Denning (Mother of Naomi Denning, y8)
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 09:31:50 +0000