Last updated 12:27, Friday, 10 October 2008

A Carlisle mum has withdrawn her daughter from one of the city’s new academy schools because she fears for her safety.

Frances Bolam and daughter Tamzin

Frances Bolam said she has formally withdrawn 11-year-old Tamzin from Richard Rose Central Academy in Harraby because of alleged bullying.

The mother-of-three of Hazeldene, Harraby, told The Cumberland News: “She was scared and I had to go up to the school and physically collect her.

“I have handed back her uniform today – she will not be going back there.”

Mrs Bolam claims Tamzin was threatened by other pupils and called home in a panic asking for help on Thursday morning using a friend’s mobile phone.

She is now considering home-schooling for her daughter.

The worried mum said she took her concerns to school heads when the bullying started weeks ago but said the situation could not be resolved.

“I was very concerned about my daughter’s safety at the school and yesterday was just the last straw.

“I worry that there are just too many children there.”

Mrs Bolam added: “Tamzin was caught up in a fight between older pupils a few days ago.

“She had to dash out of the way and this left her very scared.”

She said: “On Wednesday night I knew there was something wrong because she told me she felt sick and she slept beside her sister.
“Looking back now I think she was scared and did not want to have to go to school.

“As a parent it is an awful feeling to think that your child is that scared.

“This has been Tamzin’s first taste of high school, which is a nervous time for an 11-year-old anyway, and it has definitely not left her with a good impression.”

Mrs Bolam added that when choosing a school for Tamzin, Richard Rose was her last option out of three.

Mark Yearsley, director of Richard Rose Central Academy, said yesterday: “At this stage I am not prepared to comment on issues to do with the needs of vulnerable children.”

The academy increased security this week after a faulty fire alarm meant pupils to be evacuated from the school building four times in an hour last week. Police and teachers stepped up patrols recently after reports of pupils playing truant and throwing stones at buses.

A web forum has been set up for parents to air their concerns amid reports of clashes between gangs from the two merged schools, St Aidan’s School and North Cumbria Technology College.