A family in Figueres, in Girona province, says alleged bullying at a secondary school has left their teenage daughter in distress and led them to plan to send her to Romania next academic year. The case has been reported in the context of school and education services in Catalonia, with the family saying the response has not been enough.
According to the mother, the girl has suffered anxiety, emotional distress and has needed psychological support, including after a self-harm incident. The family says they have repeatedly asked for a school transfer, but have not secured one. They now plan for her to live with her grandmother in Romania from July.
Institut Cendrassos in Figueres, where the girl is finishing second year of ESO, denies that bullying has been confirmed. The school says it has taken the relevant steps and has informed the EAP, the psycho-pedagogical support team, and the Education Inspectorate. It says the specific bullying protocol from the Department of Education has not been activated. More Catalonia news
School management says the case has been assessed by psycho-pedagogical services and the Inspectorate, and that coexistence measures and interventions with students have been applied. It also disputes the family’s account, saying the situation described does not match the reality of the case. The management and head of studies also suggested that the problems come from home.
The mother says she has shared messages she believes show insults and threats, and that she has asked for meetings with teachers and other families. She says those meetings did not take place. The family also says the girl received a three-day expulsion for academic incidents, such as not bringing materials or problems with digital device use, and was barred from school trips. They say they have also taken screenshots of student conversations to the school, the Inspectorate and this newspaper.
The family says the girl’s emotional state has worsened since the start of the school year last October, with crying, refusal to attend class, sleep problems and reduced food intake. A medical emergency report from March, shared by the family, noted that the minor needed medical attention after a self-harm incident and referred to a situation compatible with possible school bullying, with specialist psychological follow-up recommended. The family says it has also tried home schooling and other school places in the city, without success. The Department of Education had not responded to this newspaper since April.
The parents say they feel they have reached a dead end and are acting to protect their daughter’s health. They say the move to Romania is, in their view, the only option left. For official information on school bullying procedures, readers can consult the Department of Education and the school bullying protocol.
