Students and parents reveal depths of alleged bullying crisis at Harrington Park Public School

Children at a southwest Sydney primary school have allegedly been stomped on and had their teeth chipped in a series of sickening bullying attacks.

Young children have allegedly had their teeth chipped, been stomped on, and endured a series of “vicious attacks” at a Sydney primary school, prompting parents and victims to speak out publicly about the bullying crisis.

One brave nine-year-old, who was forced to move schools, has joined the parents of many current and former students who have revealed to The Sunday Telegraph the extent of the bullying crisis at Harrington Park Public School in southwest Sydney.

More than 50 emails to school leaders from two sets of parents have been sighted, which detail their “desperate calls” for action to be taken against the bullies.

But they claim a lack of proper action was taken to protect their children, and claiming a lack of proper action was taken to protect their children.

Rebecca Olds, whose son, Athron Edwards attended the school from kindergarten until year one, said schoolyard bullies, who included pupils from years 1 to 6, allegedly taunted him on several occasions.

In an emotional interview, nine-year-old Athron bravely told The Sunday Telegraph that a “group of 20 bullies” would wait for him at the school gates and gang up on him with physical and verbal assaults.

Athron said the bullying started from kindergarten after he asked a group of boys if he could play handball with them.

Former Harrington Park Public School Athron Edwards, 9, who has since left the school, said he was traumatised by the alleged bullying. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“They were in year 6 and they told me to go away because I couldn’t play very well,” he said.

“When the bullying started, they began standing on my back and made me eat my lunch from the ground. They also took all my lunch money.”

Athron claimed he would cry “every day” and, on occasion, would experience blood noses and black eyes from the attacks.

He said he would tell the school about the incidents, but nothing was done.

The young boy recalls his final day at school in mid-2022, saying the bullies taunted him until the moment he walked out of the school gates.

Ms Olds said that despite several complaints to the school when she became aware of the bullying, no action was taken to protect the safety of her son.

“Athron kept the bullying quiet for almost a year … He would just cry a lot and say that he never wanted to go to school. I began questioning bruises, scratches and other marks on him and Athron would say he fell over.”

Jessica Sadikovic with her son who has allegedly experienced horrific bullying at the school. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Ms Olds said she acted “extremely fast” to pull him out of the school in mid-2022, saying that she needed to do “all that I could” to protect him.

“He is still traumatised by the bullying and he has received counselling support from his current school to deal with the issues,” she said.

Jessica Sadikovic, whose eight-year-old son currently attends the school and has been subjected to alleged “vicious attacks” almost every day by the bullies aged seven to 12 since 2021, said his mental health had deteriorated as a result of the “sickening” abuse.

“The bullies have punched and held him down on many occasions, and they swung him into metal poles, which led to his teeth being chipped,” the mother said.

“He was also subjected to multiple assaults in the toilets, including having his head smashed into the walls.

“He had his lunches taken, he was humiliated and constantly taunted by the bullies.”

She alleges that despite contacting the school almost daily, the school did not take any action against the bullies and claims someone at the school told her to “medicate her son”.

The mother also claimed that her son has also been reprimanded when allegedly trying to defend himself.

Mum Bec Olds says Athron still bears the scars of bullying, two years after she pulled him ou of Harrington Park Public School. Picture: Jonathan Ng

In one email, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, someone from the school told the family that they would attend to their request to have the bullying investigated “within 20 business days”.

“It was an absolute disgrace,” Ms Sadikovic said.

“The school has done nothing to take my concerns seriously and none of the bullies have been held accountable for their actions.

“He has gone from being a beautiful, kind and outgoing child to now crying all the time and feeling constant anxiety, saying that he wants to kill himself.

“His education has also immensely suffered.”

Ms Sadikovic said she was calling for a “one strike” policy to be implemented to stamp out bullying, and supported a standardised national bullying policy.

“Like the one punch law, I believe a new law needs to be passed for schools called the ‘one strike’ policy’ for bullying for children in our schools,” she said.

“I believe this policy would highly benefit our children and schools. My son’s life and others depend on this.”

Other parents have also made allegations of a similar nature, citing various attacks, including “racial abuse”.

A bruise sustained by one student after being kicked and punched at school. Picture: Supplied

Parents say the school is not taking their concerns about bullying seriously. Picture: Supplied

But a NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said the school had been working to support the students, and the allegations had been investigated in an appropriate and timely manner.

“We don’t tolerate bullying and provide support for young people impacted by it through our strong policies and procedures,” she said.

“The school fosters a positive culture through proactive wellbeing programs and explicit teaching of respectful behaviours.

“A police youth liaison spoke to all students from years 3 to 6 on June 16 about bullying.”

ANTI-BULLYING RAPID REVIEW SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED

More than 1000 submissions from students, parents and educators detailing accounts of real-life bullying experiences and the need for schools to act faster when dealing with incidents have been submitted as part of a national review into the issue.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that as of June 19, the federal government’s Anti-Bullying Rapid Review has received 1124 submissions, with young people saying they have been “victim shamed” and not been listened to when reporting incidents.

Parents have highlighted the need for schools to act, while teachers have noted the importance of being provided with resources to deal with bullying.

Submissions for the review have been extended until Friday, June 27.

Charlotte O’Brien died by suicide after relentless bullying. Picture: Supplied by her family

The federal government has committed to supporting national bullying policy after The Sunday Telegraph’s Charlotte’s Wish documentary.

Charlotte O’Brien, 12, took her own life in September last year, after a relentless campaign of bullying in the schoolyard and online.

Anonymised submissions seen by this masthead detailed personal experiences and solutions to properly deal with the bullying epidemic.

A student said that bullies, at times, did not fully understand the harm they were causing. “Encouraging empathy can shift their perspective,” the pupil said.

“Set group norms, be a role model, include others, and celebrate differences. One positive leader can inspire others.”

An ex-teacher wrote they had worked in and with schools for 20-plus years as both a chaplain, teacher and now working for the state government in mental health.

“In all the years I have seen one school proactively preventing and responding to bullying.

“They have clear restorative practices in place but also a policy that whether bullying happens within school hours or outside of school hours it is their priority to address and respond adequately,” they wrote.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has taken a strong stance against tackling bullying in schools. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Meanwhile, one parent said that educators were not social workers, psychologists, or crisis responders, yet were often placed in positions where they had to manage the consequences of complex issues without training and resources.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said bullying was cruel, dangerous and it could leave scars that lasted a lifetime.

“I’ve heard about students who have dreaded going to school because of being bullied. Or about parents who feel helpless watching their child suffer,” Mr Clare said.

“And I’ve heard from teachers who are doing everything to support students.

“Every child deserves to feel safe and that’s the standard we should all expect.

“That’s why the Albanese government is taking action to develop a national standard to address bullying in schools.”

Last month, Atreyu McCann, 13, died in his home in Sydney’s south, after what his mother Clare McCann described as a brutal campaign of bullying and mental and physical cruelty.

It was also revealed that Alex*, who was forced to leave a public school in Sydney’s south in 2023, was bullied so relentlessly online and in the schoolyard, their mother feared her child would end up dead if she did not intervene.

If you want to make a submission to the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review, visit:

https://www.education.gov.au/antibullying-rapid-review/consultations/antibullying-rapid-review-submissions

— Do you know more? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Students and parents reveal depths of alleged bullying crisis at Harrington Park Public School