A SCHOOLBOY is struggling with nightmares after a fellow pupil threatened to stab him if he returned to school, it is claimed.

It is allegedly part of a pattern of persistent bullying at the school which is being investigated by police and the school.

The 12-year-old pupil, Tyler Davidson, is in Year Seven at King Edmund School, Rochford.

His uncle Danny approached the Echo to raise awareness.

He said: “Tyler has been targeted because of his ginger hair and the fact he is overweight.

“It’s a group of three to four children.

“King Edmund School has been kept up to date with the bullying incidents and the nature of it with the increasingly threatening behaviour.

“He has been beaten up in the changing rooms while getting changed with one child taking a flying kick at him. It was all filmed. There’s also a lot of horrific name-calling across social media.

“A couple of weeks ago he was pushed around quite severely which is when it started to escalate and last Monday, the group of children told Tyler they would cut him if he came back to school again.”

Tyler’s family called the police about the incident who have since confirmed they are investigating.

Enquiries are being progressed by Castle Point & Rochford Community Policing Team.

Tyler has been suffering nightmares about being stabbed since the incident and now requires treatment.

Danny added: “I feel this needs to be highlighted to show the failings of our communities and just how unprepared they are for managing this latest pandemic of knife crime.

“Schools should be safe, educational institutes where young people can grow and learn but Tyler’s mother is scared to send him back at the moment.”

The incident was made more alarming when mother Keeley picked up Tyler from school and they were followed home by three of the alleged bullies.

Headteacher Jonathan Osborn said: “Kes is firmly rooted within its local community.

“When children argue or bully, it frequently occurs in the community or online and can filter into school.

“In my experience, the vast majority of matters that schools now deal with begin online in some form.

“We always seek to work closely with families to resolve issues that occur within school and also provide whatever support and advice we can for issues that occur outside school, including working with other bodies such as the police or social services.

“In this case, we have followed that approach, working particularly with mum and nan who have told us they are happy with the actions we have taken over the concern they raised with us.

“We understand all parents worry about the safety of their children, whether in school, at home or when they are out in public. We share that concern and take a firm stance over student safety.

“In my eight years I have dealt with only two incidents, both involving 14-15 year-old students where they brought an inappropriate object into school. In both the student was not permitted to remain at Kes.”