THE mother of a teenager who endured two years of bullying at the hands of seven fellow pupils has slammed the school where the problem began.

Mrs Ann Todd (38), of Lily Hill Street, Whitefield, claims her 15-year-old daughter Helen Morley was forced to move schools - during her vital year 10 - because staff at St Monica's RC High School failed to deal with the situation properly.

And she is calling for pupils to be better educated on bullying issues and for a clampdown on the problem.

Helen fell victim to a sustained campaign of bullying from seven girls who were all in the same year at St Monica's.

All seven have now signed police contracts instructing them to stay away from her.

She moved from St Monica's to St Gabriel's RC High in March and school life is now getting back to somewhere near normal.

But before the clampdown the bullying showed itself in several ways.

She suffered mental intimidation, with verbal abuse, threats of violence, tripping and stalking. Helen's friends were encouraged to 'ditch' her. The girls were taken out of almost all of Helen's classes.

She still has to be taken everywhere by car because of the trouble. Mrs Todd has also received threats.

Three of the girls visited Helen's home and one smashed the rear window of the family car. She has received a formal police caution over the attack. Mrs Todd said: "If the school liaison officer had known earlier, Helen would not have had to move and her coursework would not have been affected.

"Bullying is a school discipline problem and schools should give parents a detailed outline of their rules in cases of bullying."

Helen was forced to quit as netball captain at St Monica's but hopes to play again at St Gabriel's when the new season starts.

St Monica's headteacher Austin Campbell responded: "The situation was dealt with properly and professionally throughout.

"We worked with the local authority and the governing body and appropriate disciplinary action was taken where evidence was available."

Senior education welfare officer for Bury south Terry Shiels defended St Monica's in respect of its bullying policy.

He said: "The school has one of the best pastoral care systems in the borough and is very proactive in terms of bullying.

"Bullying is dealt with quickly, professionally and seriously and I am involved in every case; schools do not always do that. Mr Campbell is one of the foremost head teachers in the borough in terms of education on bullying. He has welcomed a play and a survey on the subject in his school in the past.

"He will not tolerate bullying and has excluded pupils for it in extreme cases. The girls involved with Helen are still being monitored very closely."

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