News Bullies force allergy boy to leave school
A boy with a serious nut allergy has had to withdraw from his school, following a series of bullying incidents and an allergic reaction during a P.E lesson.
George Hall-Lambert attracted national media attention after he was told he could not attend Howden School because measures were not in place to cater for his severe nut and latex allergy.
Howden School claimed that they were not informed about George's allergies when he moved up to year seven from Eastrington Primary School and they began to put measures in place to ensure that George could attend. This included training teachers in how to use George's Epipen, which saves his life should he suffer an allergic reaction.
However, George has since decided that he no longer wishes to attend the school because he feels unsafe.
George's mum, Judith, said: "George has been seriously bullied, with children throwing nuts at him and calling him 'nut boy'. He had an allergic reaction to latex in the gym during a P.E lesson and three teachers told him it was just a graze. The teachers are not trained to diagnose a reaction and it was left too long. We brought him home and he was very ill.
"His life has been made intolerable and he now has stress migraines and is on medication. It was George's decision to leave, he doesn't feel safe there."
Head teacher of Howden School, Andrew Williams, said: "I am surprised and disappointed by Mr and Mrs Hall-Lambert's decision to remove George from the school.
"We have worked closely with the family, the Local Authority and other agencies to put in place a wide range of measures to address George's needs and dispel parents' anxieties, many of which are beyond those normally considered to deal with allergies or related conditions.
"In addition, I feel that George has been making good progress since his return to full-time schooling. Over the past six weeks, there has been only a single relatively minor incident involving an allergic reaction to an unspecified substance, which did not involve any nut-related products.
"Other issues raised have been dealt with swiftly and in full consultation with the family and other agencies."
George's solicitor, Hayley Garnett from Heptonstalls LLP, added: "It is disappointing that George feels he has to withdraw from Howden School. George's mother has tried to resolve matters but to no avail. George recently had an allergic reaction at school and neither George nor his mother were satisfied with the response from the school.
"In addition, pupils have been throwing nuts at George as a 'joke' but the school has yet to demonstrate effective measures to ensure this will not happen again.
'My client did request that I be present at the last meeting Mrs Hall-Lambert had with the headmaster but, regrettably, this was not permitted.
'The lack of resolution to the matters George's mother believes are outstanding, by not only the school, but also its Governors and Local Authority, has ultimately led to George's withdrawal from Howden School."
George will now receive home-schooling in the new year in core subjects as well as going swimming with Goole Amateur Swimming Club to cover his P.E lessons.
Published on 20th December 2007 in News.
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