Michelle – UK

When I joined year 7 I was subjected to over 31 physical attacks from a group of bullies who targeted me continually.

The school did nothing to make it stop and they decided to care more about the bully than the me, the victim. This made me sick and my body was protecting my mental health because of the 48 hour rule each time it was time to go back to school I was sick again.

Final straw was when the bully was allowed to set fire to me by and assistant headteacher in a science lesson

I have been left traumatised by school and the lack of support and no action to prevent bullying

Home education has allowed me to meet peers who have accepted my additional needs and have welcomed me in to the kindest community I’ve ever known.

There are so many more opportunities and the individual curriculum has allowed me to make progress that the school had said wouldn’t happen

The curriculum is out of date and wants to fit young people into boxes.

Unfortunately if you don’t fit they keep pushing until the young persons mental health has been affected so bad that it takes years to reverse.

Schools need teaching staff not to be under so much pressure.

Schools are not designed to support SEND needs or individualised curriculums. Just fit in or suffer.