Jack Shanahan, who attends Bishop Ilsley Catholic School in Acocks Green, Birmingham, had a tuna melt rammed in his face, his parents claim
An 11-year-old boy has been bullied at school for being a vegan , his parents say.
Cruel youngsters allegedly rammed a tuna melt in Jack Shanahan’s face and ordered him to eat grass.
Other bullies at Bishop Ilsley Catholic School in Acocks Green, Birmingham, have mocked the boy, his parents claim.
Furious dad Lee Hales, 45, told Birmingham Live : “This is a very serious matter and, personally, I think the school should be ashamed.
“To say that I am angry is an understatement. I am at the end of my tether.
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The school, which with its sixth form caters for more than 1,100 children, has adapted its school meals menu to conform to Jack’s dietary requirements and says it does not condone bullying.
But Lee, a warehouse worker from the Small Heath area of the city, is considering moving his son to a new school.
He added: “Kids will be kids, we realise that, but they can also be cruel.
“But frankly, I’m shocked by the way is school is handling the situation.”
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But Lee stressed Jack and his two other children are vegans by their own choice.
“We have never forced our views on the kids,” said Lee.
“What they want to do, and what they want to be, has always been their decision.”
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His disgusted dad continued: “More and more, Jack has been saying he feels unwell, then right as rain when he knows he’s not going to school.
“It’s got so bad he is now pretending to be ill just to avoid school. This has been going on for three months.
“He is one of the brightest in his class, but sensitive. I have raised concerns before with the school, but most of the time when we contact them, they tend not to contact us back.”
The school, rated as Good by Ofsted, stressed it deals with allegations with bullying.
A spokesman said: “Any allegations about bullying are taken seriously and we have robust procedures in place to deal with any issues that arise.
“We will not, and cannot, comment on individual cases.”