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Blade incident at school

Adam Derbyshire
8/12/2004

A PRIMARY school called in police after a child used a pencil sharpener blade on another pupil.

The incident occurred in the playground during lunchbreak at Waterloo Primary School, Ashton.

The 10-year-old victim was given first aid at the scene and his parents were called. He was taken to Tameside Hospital where butterfly stitches were used to close the wound on his neck.

Headteacher David Willis launched a probe into the incident and decided to suspend the boy, also aged 10.

Police were called to hold a meeting with the youngster and his parents two days later.

A decision was then taken to allow him back to school, to the 'disgust' of many mums and dads.

They have since launched a petition in a bid to get the youngster permanently expelled from the Worthington Street school.

Tracy Buckley, head of governors, issued a letter to all parents explaining the reasons for the decision.

She said the school understood the gravity of the incident and acted accordingly.

The letter states: "The school like every other school has a duty to promote 'inclusion' of all pupils. The emphasis of the (DfES) guidance is that a permanent exclusion is discouraged and to be considered as a last resort in very extreme circumstances. A fixed period exclusion was entirely appropriate for the circumstances."

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said: "Are our children safe when we send them through those gates every morning? The lad purposely took the blade out of the sharpener. In my eyes that is a pre-meditated attack.

"My children know the difference between right and wrong. To suspend that boy for just two days is no punishment at all."

A council spokeswoman said it supported the action taken by the school, which was appropriate.

"The school took the incident very seriously and the governors, headteacher and staff are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all pupils," she added.