Dive star Daley bullied at school

Tom was on the British team at the Beijing Olympics

Teenage Olympic diver Tom Daley said he has not been to school since before Easter because he was being bullied.

Tom, 14, from Plymouth, was on the British team at the Beijing games and earlier this week won silver at the World Series in Sheffield.

He said the bullying was not "high-level" but "everyone in the school" was doing it.

His school, Eggbuckland Community College in Plymouth, said its policy was to deal firmly with bullying.

After the Olympics it went mad... everyone that you walk past has a little dig at you Tom Daley

Tom said: "It's not getting to me, as in the words are upsetting me, it's just the fact that I can't have a normal school life like everybody else.

"It's not high-level bullying, just name calling, someone chucking a bit of paper at you, tipping your pencil case out.

"After the Olympics it went mad... everyone that you walk past has a little dig at you."

He said he had not been back to school since before the Easter holidays and had considered changing schools.

Rob Daley said the bullying had got "out of hand"

"When I was annoyed at school I started to get annoyed at diving.

"I'm much happier now I can concentrate on diving."

His father, Rob, said: "It has got to the point where he doesn't want to go back to school.

"I'll have to pull him out of school and switch to another if it continues.

"He should be a positive role model instead of enduring what he's had to."

Katrina Borowski, principal of Eggbuckland Community College, said: "Tom's extremely high profile has led to a minority of students acting in an immature way towards him.

"All involved in his education are supporting him as best we can and immediate action was taken to address concerns raised."