A MUM fined £50 after her son skipped school for 18 months has hit out at education chiefs.

Valerie Dakin, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, said bullies at Beardwood High School had made life "hell" for her truant son.

But governors have claimed there must be "more to the case than meets the eye" and said the school comes down on bullying "fast and hard".

Three attacks and constant name-calling reduced 13-year-old Stephen Sharples from a bright, primary school pupil to an uncommunicative teenager lacking confidence, his mum said.

A road accident shortly before he started Beardwood High left him with 148 stitches to his face and the butt of cruel name-calling.

He was suspended for a week after lashing out at a victimiser, she said .

"When he returned to school the victimisation was endless and he was involved in two more fights.

"I went to the school but staff denied there was bullying. Stephen has now refused to return. His confidence is shattered."

Valerie, who has been fined for her son's truancy, has slammed education chiefs for refusing to transfer Stephen to another school where he could have "a fresh start. "The fact that I have been fined doesn't solve a thing. They won't let me take Stephen off the school register and won't give him home tuition, so I can't win for losing.

"He has refused point-blank to return to Beardwood. I am trying to get him back into mainstream education and getting no help whatsoever. I feel angry and let down," she said.

"Stephen has threatened to run away before he will go back," Valerie added.

"If he is willing to run away rather than go to school there must be a major problem," she said.

Beardwood High chairman of governors Roy Martin said he had no knowledge of the case.

But he added: "The fact is that Stephen has refused to attend school for 18 months and the county council has not assisted him in a transfer.

"This leads me to conclude that there is far more to the case than meets the eye.

"It also suggests that Mrs Daykin is unfairly attempting to blame the school."

"Beardwood High operates an anti-bullying policy which is closely monitored.

"I cannot claim that bullying never occurs. It does in most schools.

"But when it happens at Beardwood, in my experience the school comes down on it fast and hard," he added.

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