Father removes his children from school amid bullying claims (From Warrington Guardian)

Father removes his children from school amid bullying claims

A FATHER has removed his children from a Crewe high school where he claims they were being bullied.

John Johnson, aged 43, of Circle Avenue, Willaston, told how he has stopped his 16-year-old daughter Jodie, 16, and son Lee, aged 12, from attending Shavington High School.

He has insisted that the children were being bullied by pupils at the school and further claimed they were being victimised by teachers.

Mr Johnson and his wife Elaine, aged 38, said they had reported the alleged bullying to the school and local authorities, but claim nothing had been done.

Mr Johnson said: "Lee has been constantly bullied at the school because he is overweight.

"Other pupils have been teasing him, calling him fat and so on. But it reached the point where he was actually dangled over a banister by his legs.

"The teachers and prefects have been refusing to let Jodie use the toilet, which I think is a basic human right.

"Then she was given a detention for supposedly truanting, when in fact it was actually the teacher who had not turned up.

"We have reported the behaviour to the school, to the county authority and also to local councillors but they have done nothing.

"We feel that the children are being victimised and we have decided to take them out of the school."

A Cheshire County Council spokesman said: "We would totally deny any allegations of bullying.

"The school totally rejects any suggestion that Mr Johnson's children are being bullied.

"Whether he has removed his children from school is unclear.

"One child is currently excluded for the second time in a month - for defiance and swearing at teachers.

"The other, who was excluded twice last term for dangerous behaviour in a classroom is not at school.

"Mr Johnson, who himself has received a written warning about his abusive and threatening behaviour to staff has been invited to school to discuss his children's behaviour."