A HEADTEACHER has defended his school's anti-bullying policy, after worried parents removed their son because they feared for his safety.

Andrew Gill and Donna Dobson claim their 12-year-old son Barry, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Tourette's Syndrome has experienced abuse from bullies at Stonehenge School, in Amesbury.

They have now taken the difficult decision to keep Barry at home, in the hope that they can find a school better suited to his needs.

"I think it's very sad that our son expects bullying as part of his daily life," said Mrs Dobson. "He has been punched, kicked, spat on and suffered all sorts of verbal abuse.

"Barry has done everything right by telling us what is happening to him, but nothing changes.

"We no longer want to send him to school if we don't think he is going to be safe."

Mrs Dobson believes Barry would experience difficulties in many mainstream schools because there is a lack of understanding about his condition.

"It is a medical problem that leaves him vulnerable to this kind of behaviour," she said. "Children can be cruel and we feel he needs specialist help."

Mr Gill added: "Barry loves going to school but that enthusiasm is draining away because of the bullying. Being upset because he is picked on actually aggravates his condition.

"We have been into the school on a number of occasions to have meetings with various staff and we have kept Barry out of school in the past.

"Now the bullying has got so bad that I feel sending our son to school is a risk I'm not prepared to take."

But headteacher Andrew Packer said Stonehenge School had a clearly defined anti-bullying policy that was approved by parents following a special evening on friendship last year.

He emphasised that, during the school's recent Oftsed visit, the inspectors appeared satisfied with the procedures and that staff worked hard to stamp out bullying and ensure the school was a safe environment.

He said: "Unfortunately, it is impossible to satisfy all parents all of the time. Also, this is the first time we have had a child with Tourette's Syndrome and ADHD in school.

"We want to work with the parents but there is no quick fix to a complex situation."

A spokesman for Wiltshire county council said the LEA tried to ensure children were educated in a school best suited to their needs.

"Our policy, which is in line with national guidance, is for as many children as possible to be taught in mainstream local schools, so that they can be educated and live in their own communities," he said.

"Where a child's educational needs cannot be met by their local school, alternatives, such as residential school places, are explored."