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DEATH WARNING
A HORRIFIED dad warned a school about "extreme bullying" months before a pupil lay down on tracks and was killed by a train after allegedly being targeted online.
The train passenger emailed teachers after witnessing the "horrendous behaviour" from students at Salesian School in Chertsey where tragic Sam Connor, 14, was a pupil.
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The father said he saw a boy being hit round the head with a bottle before hearing a gang of lads question a 12-year-old girl about her sexuality after the train stopped at Chertsey.
He spoke out after tragic Sam Connor was killed on Monday afternoon in front of up to 50 screaming classmates. It has been claimed Sam had been bullied online by trolls posting nasty comments online.
It is understood a scrawled letter - believed to be a suicide note with two names written on it and the code to his mobile - was found nearby.
Police are not treating his death as suspicious and describe it as a “deliberate act” – despite a school source earlier claiming it may have been a “prank gone wrong”.
'CULTURE OF BULLYING'
The dad-of-two - who witnessed the distressing scenes last June - said: "I was really shocked by it all.
"There was a clearly of culture of bullying at the school going on at the time but to them, it appears the responsibility ends at the school gates.
"It shouldn't take a boy dying for the school to sit up and take notice."
The engineer - who doesn't want to be named - was sitting on the train when the two young boys sat next to him and started hitting another pupil on the head after holding him down.
He told them to stop but was then forced to intervene again when he heard the young girl being interrogated by the gang of boys.
'BULLYING OF THE HIGHEST ORDER'
In an email sent to the school and seen by The Sun Online, he said: “I am a father of two young children and after today would not consider sending my children to your school.
“I think it should be mandatory that a teacher or a responsible person from your school accompanies the children on the train in the mornings and evenings, as I first had to tell a boy to stop beating up another boy on the seat next to me. This is bullying.
“I then had the misfortune of overhearing a boy questioning a young girl of about 11 or 12 who was surrounded by other children about her sexual history. This is abuse and bullying of the highest order".
A response from the assistant headteacher Hayley Baumgart made clear "on the whole the behaviour of students is exemplary".
Email to the school sent by the commuter
"I travelled from Egham to Weybridge at 15.49pm today and experienced for the second time the appalling behaviour of the children who attend your school, as they were wearing your school uniform.
"I am a father of two young children and after today would not consider sending my children to your school.
"I think it should be mandatory that a teacher or a responsible person from your school accompanies the children on the train in the mornings and evenings, as I first had to tell a boy to stop beating up another boy on the seat next to me. This is bullying.
"I then had the misfortune of overhearing a boy questioning a young girl of about 11 or 12 who was surrounded by other children about her sexual history.
"I was completely shocked at the detailed questions he asked the girl and I got out of my seat and told the boy sternly never to speak to a girl like that again and especially not in public. This is abuse and bullying of the highest order."
The dad also questioned why they couldn’t have a teacher travel on the trains with students.
Due to a large catchment area and its proximity to Chertsey Station, the train is the preferred method of travel to and from school for many pupils and their parents.
Up to 100 pupils are understood to use the train to get to and from the school each day, crowding the platform at peak times.
But the school, who did apologise for the pupils' behaviour, pointed out "resources are limited" and said there is a member of staff at each station after school each day.
Ms Baumgart went on to explain they work "closely" with South West Trains and British Transport Police so have access to CCTV "apprehend anyone who has behaved inappropriately".
However, this response was not good enough for the concerned commuter.
In a further email passed to The Sun Online, he told Ms Baumgart: "There were two other adults on the same carriage who shared similar sentiments with me regarding the behaviour of the children.
"One of them (an English man) told me he was moving to Spain so that his young son did not have to be brought up in this country with children who behave in this way because schools like yours are ineffective. This I find terribly sad.
"I will also find a way of avoiding taking the train on this route in future. I don't imagine South West Rail will be pleased to know your pupils are discouraging customers from using their services."
"Perhaps some extra lessons in decorum are in order."
The school would not comment on the emails when contacted by The Sun Online.
The school's response to the commuter
"Thank you for your email regarding Salesian students on the train. Please let me start by apologising for any distress they may have caused you or any other passengers.
"Please believe me when I say that on the whole the behaviour of students at Salesian School is exemplary. As you may be aware, the school has an excellent reputation both in terms of standards and ethos.
"We are recognised as one of the highest performing schools in the country, we are the school of choice for the vast majority of families in the locality and we are regularly praised for the excellent attitude our students display. Not only do they work hard to achieve academically, they also give generously of their time and energy to help others. Last year they raised over £20,000 for various charities and many worked on community service projects both locally and further afield.
"Having said all that, I am fully aware that we can not always guarantee that our expectations will be met beyond the school gate and indeed we know that on occasion a minority of students let them and us down when travelling to and from school.
"Where this happens it obviously gives the impression that standards at the school are below par and your email clearly indicates your disgust. Please let me assure you that we do not treat these matters lightly and are always looking to rectify situations where our students actions have adversely affected others.
"You asked that a member of staff accompanies the students on the train and we will do more than that. You’ll appreciate that our resources are limited but we do have a senior member of staff at the station every afternoon. We carry out spot checks on the trains and a member of senior staff will travel between Staines and Weybridge at least once a half term or as necessary in response to a complaint.
"We work closely with South West Trains and British Transport Police where incidents do arise and have access to CCTV footage to apprehend anyone who has behaved inappropriately. Salesian is an exceedingly strict school and we like to think that the students get away with very little so where complaints are made we invite members of the public into school both to identify those concerned from our photographic records and also to see the school in action so they can be reassured that what they have witnessed is not a fair reflection of what happens here; this is an invitation which you yourself are of course more than welcome to take up.
"We do not believe in giving blanket reprimands to the whole school for the poor behaviour, we will always seek out those actually responsible for this but everything we do and say to the school community as a whole encourages good behaviour.
"Once again, thank you for your feedback, apologies for the upset caused and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you feel the situation has not improved. Please do introduce yourself to one of us on the train if you see us on patrol."
Speaking today, the dad said: "The bullying was absolutely horrendous and it should be dealt with no matter what the reputation of the school is or how much it costs or whether they raise millions for charity.
"I dread to think what could've happened if I hadn't stepped in to say something."
His worrying comments come after tributes continue to flood in for tragic Sam - with the school continuing to say they have no record of him being bullied.
The teen reportedly handed over his mobile phone and school bag to horrified classmates before he lay down on the tracks and was struck by the train.
TRAGEDY ON THE TRACKS
Sobbing pals screamed "I saw it, I saw it" as cops rushed to close off the scene so specialist body recovery experts could remove his remains from the tracks.
In a letter to parents, the BBC reports executive head teacher James Kibble said: "Some parents will understandably be worried about the references to bullying that have been made.
"We feel that it would be improper to respond to these at this time, given the family's request for information about the student not to be shared.
"You should know that the police and the local authority are currently carrying out separate investigations and safeguarding reviews and we are confident that bullying will not be an issue that is raised when the reports are published."
Deborah Barrett, the first wife of Sam's dad, James, said: "My youngest daughter rang me on Monday and told me what Sam had happened and said Sam had been bullied.
"It doesn't bear thinking about. It's awful.
"My girls have said there was stuff said online about Sam.
"Lots of children are bullied but this must have been horrendous.
"If Sam was being bullied at school, then why weren't the school doing anything?"
'CHARMING'
Sam, from nearby Ashford, was described as one of the "nicest and most charming" boys at a local breakdancing club by a devastated pal.
The friend posted a photo of Sam on Facebook with his breakdancing pals, writing: "Cannot not even think of an emotion to describe how I am right now apart from just heartbroken. No parent should ever have to bury their own child. The child should always bury the parents.
"The crying with happiness, the laughs, the dancing will never be the same without you. Rest in peace Sam you absolute legend.
"Breaking isn't going to be the same with you gone. Hope you're still dancing out there in the skies."
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
MOST READ IN NEWS
A school spokesman said they had "no record" of the boy being bullied and couldn't make any further comment.
They were rated as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted in their last report in 2013 with the catchment area stretching as far as Windsor.
Headteacher James Kibble added the school is "devastated" and it will be holding a series of assemblies to help students come to terms with the tragedy.
The annual sports day was due to take place on Tuesday but was cancelled after the tragedy.
An educational psychologist and counsellors are on site to help the youngsters.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on (free) 116123
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