This boy can't go to school because of school bullies | Bundaberg News | Local News in Bundaberg

Kallee Buchanan

DIANNE Detlefsen was so scared for her son Matthew, she refused to send him back to school when the holidays were over.

She claims bullies at Kepnock State High School have threatened to kill her son and hurt her family, and the school has failed to keep him safe.

Education Queensland argues it is doing everything possible to help the teenagers, but Ms Detlefsen is not convinced the action has been appropriate or strong enough. Bundaberg's Dianne Detlefsen wants one thing for her son Matthew for him to be safe at school.

The Year 8 student started at Kepnock State High School at the beginning of the year, and Ms Detlefsen alleges he has been beaten up, threatened, victimised and bullied since day one.

And as if that was not enough, Ms Detlefsen said she has been let down by the school, which she sFearing for her own and her son's safety, Ms Detlefsen has kept both her sons home from school since the beginning of term three and demands the culprits be removed from the school. "I don't intend putting my son back into that environment until it is safe," she said.

She said the school responded to aid has failed to stop the bullying by keeping Matthew in the Special Education Unit and away from other children, but her son could not understand why he appeared to be punished while his attackers roamed freely around the school. "He asked me 'why am I in jail while they're running around'," she said.

A spokeswoman from Education Queensland said the school's principal was investigating the complaint and support was being given to Matthew. "The students involved in the alleged bullying incidents have been under a comprehensive program of counselling, mediation and specialist support programs," she said.

The school has also offered to meet with Ms Detlefsen to discuss the issue, but she said she felt intimidated by the staff. "They said they will not do anything for me until I bring Matthew back to school," she said.

Queensland Parents and Citizens Association's Wide Bay regional president Loris Doessel said plans to deal with bullying were a joint effort of parents, P&C's and the schools.

She said a situation where either the bully or the victim was prevented from going to school was not a solution. "We're looking for an outcome of a good education for all students," she said. "The best course is to talk to the school and maybe review the plan if it isn't working."