A TALENTED young ballet dancer has written an open letter to his local newspaper about the horrors of being bullied at school and branded gay because he is a dancer.

Shaine Young, 11, who has been chosen to dance in The Nutcracker for English Youth Ballet and wants to emulate Billy Elliot, the boy in the film of that name, has told of the fear that he feels every time he makes the trip to school.

After he was allegedly held in a headlock and punched and kicked by other children, his mother, Donna Young, took him and his younger brother out of Cringleford School, Norwich. She is teaching them at home.

In his letter to the Norwich Evening News, Shaine wrote: “When I get bullied I feel sad, unhappy and upset inside. It makes me feel woolly inside whenever I go to school because I am scared that I will get bullied.

“It also affects my work because I worry what will happen at break time. It makes me feel like I am going to be sick. I also cry a lot because I find it hard to cope with normal life and I feel like my life is a mess.”

He concluded by writing: “Sad but hope to be happy.”

The boy said yesterday: “I think that instead of the ones that are being bullied being taken out of school, the bullies should be kicked out.

“I just hope that someone will see the letter I wrote in the newspaper and think about doing something about this.”

He said that he hoped that other children who were being bullied would realise that they were not alone.

Mrs Young said that her son would not hit back at his tormentors.

“He’s a sensitive dancer and gymnast, not a fighter,” she said. “I knew Shaine was having problems, was frightened and was being bullied, but I didn’t realise just how far it had gone. I feel very ashamed for not taking the poor lad out of school sooner.”

The mother of three added: “I’m not tolerating this terrible campaign of abuse any more. Shaine’s life has been turned into a total nightmare. He’s far better off at home.” Mrs Young said that she had first approached the school in November about the bullying. “Shaine started to get very low and was petrified of going to school,” she said.

“I’ve decided it has gone on long enough and that is why I have taken him out.”

Mrs Young added that the school had failed to deal with the problem. Gill Blake, the head teacher at Cringleford School, said: “We have previously received allegations, including things such as gesturing, with everyone being thoroughly investigated, but I have no knowledge of any physical or verbal intimidation. We simply would not stand for that.

“We have clear procedures in place which we carry out rigorously. The school has been working closely with Shaine and his family to resolve an alleged incident that was reported to the school earlier this month. We are keen to work with the family to resolve this matter and get both children back in school.”

She said that the school was very proud of Shaine’s achievements.

Jamie Bell portrayed 11-year-old Billy Elliot in the 2000 film directed by Stephen Daldry. Billy wants to become a ballet dancer rather than a boxer in the depressed North East of the 1980s and is bullied by his father and brother as a result.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• What makes the perfect mum?
• To keep me stress-free, no more awareness days, please
• What do lottery winners buy?