Last year we had some bullying issues with my then SS. He was making himself physically ill in the morning so he didn't have to go to school, but usually around lunch time he was suddenly all better. It only took 2 days to connect the dots so on the second day I took him to the doctor. Unlike your daughter he wouldn't discuss if anything was bothering him so I asked the nurse to send a little note in to the doctor before we went in say that I suspected bullying. LSS... He was being bullied, and actually hunted down by the bully and his little posse of thugs. Luckily for him his school has a strict bullying policy and once it was reported things swung straight into action, with the ringleader even being given lunch and play susspension for a whole term (this means at lunch and play time they have to sit in the office foyer. Parents were involved and all the kids had to go to mediation together. Unfortunately it sounds like your school isn't as good BUT our doctor offered to write the school a letter for us basically saying in his opinion SS was depressed and ill as a result of their failure in their duty of care. Such a step would be radical but the Dr said it had worked with other schools that weren't acting on bullying.

Your DD's withdrawing in group peer situations does suggest that she has some emotion issues as a result of her school experiences. This isn't because of anything you have or haven't done but don't forget that your GP can be your ally in anything to do with bullying.

Are you in the position to home school, seeing as their is no school based alternative in your area?