A boy who lost his finger while running away from an alleged attack at school has moved away with his family after facing "constant" bullying, his mum claims.
Shantal Bailey says her 11-year-old son Raheem was subjected to racist and physical abuse while at Abertillery Learning Community in Blaenau Gwent after starting in September last year.
The parent alleges that he was assaulted by bullies on school grounds in May and seriously injured his finger on railings while trying to run away - resulting in the finger being amputated, Wales Online reports.
In a new interview with the BBC Shantal said: "It seems like he has constantly been bullied... He has always been at least name-called and mocked for his height."
She added that the abuse was not always racist but she claimed there had been some "proper racism" including, she alleged, use of the N-word. "I don't think he understood 100% what the N-word meant," she said.
"Each day he had to build himself up to go in because he knew he was going to get picked on... That's painful, that a child has to almost prepare themselves before going into a place that's meant to be safe and tranquil."
Shantal believes it was telling that Raheem appeared to be relieved when she suggested they leave the area. In an interview with The Times she said the family had moved to England. The mum told the BBC that teachers and head teachers in general should do more to ensure it is not a bullied child who ends up having to leave a school.
She said more should be done to make parents take bullying complaints seriously. The school has said the "wellbeing and safety of our pupils and staff remains of paramount importance".
Shantal added: "I understand not everyone's home life is great so sometimes... They come to school and take it out. But it shouldn't be the child that's coming to school and behaving that's feeling the pressure."
Her fundraising campaign following the amputation raised £107,000 in donations for Raheem's treatment. Shantal is now looking into having a prosthetic fitted for her son. She said he has mostly accepted his "new normal" but he occasionally gets down.
Gwent Police told the BBC that its investigations into the incident are ongoing. Blaenau Gwent council has been approached for comment. In a statement in May the council said: "The safety and well-being of all learners and staff remains paramount. We have continued to closely monitor and review the situation."
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