What we have to say
Pregnancy, parenthood and staying at school
Staff at a low socioeconomic, culturally diverse school discuss the links between bullying, pregnant students and young mums staying at school - and how the school is learning to support these young women.
Lavinia (teacher/librarian): There's a group of about a dozen of us who support pregnant students and young mums to stay at school … not that there is a huge demand. I didn't even think that bullying was an issue as to why they left. I didn't know why they left … I just wished they would finish their education.Apparently bullying is a huge part of their reasons for leaving school - and they think that they won't be welcome to come back.
We are developing strategies to let these girls know that we want them to be here and we want them to finish their education. My role is one of mentor for their educational difficulties. To talk to other teachers and liaise with other staff, help with assignments, organise their time.
Debbi (school-based nurse): There's a maze of reasons as to why these students leave school. It's not easy when there are problematic health issues and the body issues, along with money, accommodation, who to live with, how will they get along with them and what to do when the baby comes along.
We are here to support them and be positive about their options rather than just stay at home and do distance ed.
Bullying is huge in this and we've been looking at bullying across the whole school. We are looking at this formally, and working with our feeder schools so that when students first enter the school we can address it. At the end of the five-year cycle we will have a school where bullying is not okay.
Lavinia: It started out with one girl who became pregnant and wanted to finish her education - and didn't. She had told me she was going to be one of the first people in her family to finish school. And that's what got to me - it was so important to her to finish school.
Simon (deputy principal): The baby is due in five weeks' time. She is incredibly keen to come back. I got the impression that she took the easy way out and left. I didn't realise the medical problems or the extent that those other students got to her. She is desperate to come back. Mum is going to look after the baby.
Debbie: Family support is really important.
Simon: It never even occurred to me at the time that I could have offered her part-time schooling. I said to her how it would've been if we had kept the English, Maths and something else and did Dance and Drama next year. It would've been so easy. Here I was doing it all the time for the sporting kids. It is easy to do. Just put her in the system.
Lavinia: Be flexible, that's the whole point. Choices.
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