No child should have to suffer like us

Christopher’s story

Smiling at her children as they trooped in from school, Jan McFariane asked, “Nice day, kids?”

“Great”, replied seven-year-old Kayleigh. “I drew these pictures”.

Jan’s son, Christopher, 11, just dumped his bag down and stomped upstairs.

He’d been at Brierton comprehensive in Hartlepool for two months.

Jan’s husband, Paul, shrugged. He’s been like this for weeks”, he said.

Next morning, at breakfast, Jan was sure Christopher had been crying. He pushed away his cereal. “I’m not hungry”, he sighed.

That evening, Jan, 32, and Paul, 34, called a family meeting. “We know something’s wrong”, said Jan. “Tell us and we can sort it out”.

Christopher took a deep breath. “Some boys at school call me names and push me around”, he said.

He pulled some school books from his bag. The covers were torn off and there were rude messages scribbled across the pages.

“Who are these boys?” asked Jan.

“A few of them are in my class”, her son replied, “and some of them are

older”.

Next day, Jan phoned the school and told them what had happened. “We’ll talk to the lads involved and keep a close eye on Christopher”, a teacher promised.

But, over the next year, the bullying continued. Often, Christopher’s uniform was ripped or covered in mud. Books and pens disappeared from his bag. Jan and Paul reported every incident to the school, but things didn’t improve.

“What’s the point?” cried Christopher desperately. “They won’t stop!”Jan came home one afternoon and found a note from Paul.

“I’m collecting Christopher from hospital”, he’d written. “Don’t worry – he’s OK”. Jan wondered what on earth could have happened. She waited for a tense 20 minutes. When Paul and Christopher arrived home, she almost cried.

Christopher was wearing a surgical collar and his face was bruised and tear-stained.

“Th-they held me upside down and banged my head on the ground”, he stammered nervously.”

“I couldn’t breathe, so the teacher called an ambulance”, he added.

The couple wrote to the school again. Then they rang the police but an officer said it was a matter for the school.

Next day, Christopher returned to school, but he refused to wear the surgical collar. They’ll call me a wimp”, he said.

A few weeks later, Jan got a phone call from a teacher. “There’s been a fight”, he said. “I’m afraid Christopher’s nose is broken”.

When they arrived at the school, they found Christopher sobbing by the main entrance, shaking with shock. There was a teacher with him. “Mum …” he cried, when he saw Jan. His face was swollen and pale, his eyes black and his nose encrusted with blood.

The couple took him to hospital. Christopher told them what happened. A boy from another class had started picking on him for no reason. He thumped Christopher, and then kicked him in the groin. When Christopher tried to defend himself the bully accused him of fighting back and head-butted Christopher.

Jan was sick with anger. “Why isn’t the school helping him?” she wept to Paul. “How could it have come to this?”

Christopher needed an operation to reset his nose. “It’s a bad break”, the doctor told his parents. “Keep him off school for six weeks – he can’t afford to get another thump”. Paul called the police, who interviewed Christopher. They then spoke to his 14-year-old attacker and some of the children who’d seen the fight.

This time, the police decided to press charges.

A meeting with the headmaster, Mr. Priestley, and the chairman of the board of governors, was arranged. “We’ll keep an eye on Christopher from now on”, assured the headmaster. “And the bullies will be dealt with”.

Christopher’s attacker received a three-day suspension.

Despite this injury, Christopher was keen to return to school.

“If I stay off, I’ll fall behind”, he told his mum.

But Jan was sure he was dreading what might happen to him.

At Hartlepool Juvenile Court, the boy was charged with assault. After pleading guilty, he was given a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay Christopher L 100 compensation.

Seven months after the incident, Christopher, 13, hasn’t been troubled by bullies since. But sometimes, he suffers from headaches and dizziness. Jan is convinced that it’s linked to his injury.

She and Paul have set up a support group. Families Against Bullying, to offer advice to parents of bullied children.

“If the schools won’t protect our children adequately, we, as parents have to”, says Paul angrily. “No child should have to endure what Christopher went through.