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RE: Bullying on the school buses

AndyH — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 23:29:26 GMT

I work at Gatwick Airport and I have just had my latest CRB check carried out. The whole procedure was completed in less than 4 weeks. Why is it taking so long to check a group of bus drivers?

RE: Bullying on the school buses

JLC — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:35:13 GMT

[quote][b]M (27/05/2007)[/b][hr][quote][b]JLC (25/05/2007)[/b][hr]The school are apparently striving towards having ALL their drivers CRB checked by July - a little late in my opinion, but there you go. [/quote]

Striving! Surley this should be a requirement, not 'sales' ammo[/quote]

Well that comment was direct from the horses mouth, believe it or not.

It's certainly not rocket science to see where it all went wrong. Perhaps if the school had CRB checked all their drivers as a matter of course and had adult 'chaperones' on the buses, then maybe, just maybe, Ben Vodden would still be with us :unsure:

RE: Bullying on the school buses

Sun, 27 May 2007 16:35:48 GMT

[quote][b]JLC (25/05/2007)[/b][hr]The school are apparently striving towards having ALL their drivers CRB checked by July - a little late in my opinion, but there you go. [/quote]

Striving! Surley this should be a requirement, not 'sales' ammo

RE: Bullying on the school buses

JLC — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:27:22 GMT

I agree Andy.

The school are apparently striving towards having ALL their drivers CRB checked by July - a little late in my opinion, but there you go.

As for the driver involved with the Ben Vodden case, the coach company refused to comment on whether he is still employed with them or not..... we'll take that as a 'yes' then, shall we ?

RE: Bullying on the school buses

AndyH — Thu, 24 May 2007 22:59:50 GMT

I saw Ben's parents interviewed recently on TV, and I could not believe it when they said that West Sussex County Council does not require a school bus driver to have a CRB ( criminal records) check. WHY NOT?? Anyone else who works with, or supervises children has to, so what makes bus drivers above it all?

RE: Bullying on the school buses

Spellcast Studio — Sat, 19 May 2007 13:58:58 GMT

Problem is - the school has to admit there is a problem with bullying before postitive action can be taken. Something which Tanbridge consistently refuses to do.............................. inspite of all the evidence to contrary. Even a boys death doesn't appear to have made a difference.

RE: Bullying on the school buses

JLC — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:02:24 GMT

Absolutely! I think some serious issues need raising here. I feel a much needed letter to the school coming on!!! ;)

RE: Bullying on the school buses

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 09:32:50 GMT

When the new smoking laws come in the driver will not be allowed to smoke - I am sure he is not now. Looks like an opportunity for a video phone to be put to good use if the driver is breaking the rules.

RE: Bullying on the school buses

JLC — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:44:37 GMT

I have a son already at Tanbridge and my youngest is due to start in September. The buses are a joke, with some of the drivers openly smoking whilst driving the children home. What sort of example is that setting? My son is always coming home saying there has been one problem or another, whether it be from other pupils or the drivers, who can be heard regularly using bad language to the kids who use the bus service.

According to different reports, the driver openly admitted joining in the name calling and describing it as 'banter'. If this is true, then in my opinion the bus driver should be sacked, if he hasn't already been. Surely the time has come for either the County Council or Tanbridge to put out a tender for a new contract with another bus company and do away with the one they employ now.

RE: Bullying on the school buses

DotNetWebs — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:45:58 GMT

There is a article about this very sad incident in todays guardian:

http://education.guardian.co.uk/pupilbehaviour/story/0,,2061853,00.html

Bullying on the school buses

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:45:52 GMT

The recent tragic loss of Ben Vodden and open verdict at the inquest raised the question of bullying on school buses.

What can be done to prevent this happening? Is it a school or county issue? Do we need to have 'bus rangers' to keep and eye on things or trust it to the senior pupils?

Do you have any experiences of this that can help prevent further bullying?