Cydonee Mardon: We need to listen and tell Charlotte’s story

What sort of world are we living in when the message from a little girl who no longer walks this earth comes second?

This is a tragedy, not a conspiracy.

What sort of world are we living in when the message from a little girl who no longer walks this earth comes second?

Nothing else should matter other than the words in little pink handwriting that say “please tell the school and raise awareness”.

She was 12. She is dead.

As horrible as that is to write so bluntly, it’s the truth we are left with, and the dilemma we face as a society to make sure it never happens again.

The response from Santa Sabina College to questions raised by the Sunday Telegraph after Charlotte’s parents bravely spoke publicly in the depths of their trauma was shocking to many.

In the lengthy response there was so little about Charlotte and so much defending the school’s anti bullying policy.

We need to listen to Charlotte’ story.

Like Charlotte’s father Mat says, the families “inundating” the school with messages about how safe their children feel get to pick up their daughters today. He doesn’t. And he never will again.

Mat and Kelly aren’t trying to lay blame. They are looking for meaningful change.

A good start would have been for the school to start a public response with “firstly we are so devastated for this family who have lost their beloved daughter”.

Not to defend their anti-bullying policy and say they are offended by the suggestion they are not doing enough.

Santa Sabina College.

Charlotte is gone. Charlotte will never graduate. Her parents will never get to see her go to uni, watch her walk down the aisle.

Isn’t it time that everyone takes some responsibility?

Schools listening more to their students and parents? Politicians hearing what they can do better?

It’s easy to have an anti-bullying policy on a website. It’s much harder to ask “is it working ? What can we do better?”

For Charlotte’s sake, we should honour her wish. Share her story and don’t let her death be in vain.

Originally published as Cydonee Mardon: We need to listen and tell Charlotte’s story