Teenager beats bullying with exam success

8:15am Tuesday 10th July 2007

TEENAGER Amy Evans has proved wrong the bullies who made her life hell.

The 16-year-old former Dorcan Technology College student was driven to attempt suicide six times by students who made her feel too scared to leave the house.

But when Amy changed to a special school for vulnerable children about two years ago, her potential began to unfold.

She has just finished her GCSEs, a milestone she once thought she would never reach.

The Riverside Centre, which provides education for 14 to 16-year-olds who have suffered trauma, turned her life around.

"Riverside is much smaller, with only 36 pupils, and everyone has been through problems so everyone understands how you feel," said Amy, who lives in Rodbourne.

"We all looked out for each other.

"At first I was quiet at Riverside, but I built up my confidence and turned up every day.

"I never thought I'd do GCSEs, but I did."

Amy, who is planning to secure a part-time job before she starts college, is looking forward to starting a vocational studies course in September where she will learn about hairdressing, beauty therapy, health and social care and floristry.

She rarely thinks about the torture she endured at the hands of bullies in 2005.

"I try not to think of those times now," Amy said.

"But I was really scared. I wouldn't leave the house and wouldn't go to school for six months.

"Now I feel much better and go out every day. I've moved on and got on with my life. I feel a lot happier and haven't taken an overdose in two years."

At the age of 14, she suffered relentless taunts, being slapped and pelted with stones.

The trauma drove her to overdose on painkillers.

The school bullies hounded her every day, often as she made her way home from school, so mum Rachel decided the only option was to keep her away.

Rachel, 35, knows she made the right decision to send Amy to Riverside.

"Riverside is absolutely brilliant, she has achieved a lot there," said the mother-of-three.

"It has been a good outcome and much better than keeping her in mainstream education.

"I feel relieved she has done her GCSEs.

"Now she will have to go out into the big bad world, but she has the confidence to deal with it."

And Amy has urged other children to speak out if they are being bullied and not to feel ashamed.

She said: "They should tell a teacher and your parents when it happens and write it down."