Eight-year-old boy charged with attack on teacher

AN eight-year-old boy has been charged by police over a classroom attack on his teacher.

Police were called into a primary school in East Lothian, even though the attack did not involve a weapon and is not understood to have left the teacher badly injured.

The primary four pupil was suspended but is now thought to be back at the school. He was charged with assault and reported to the Children's Panel.

East Lothian Council today insisted it was committed to taking a tough line on any attacks on teachers and warned police would be called in again.

News of the attack comes amid growing concern at the levels of violence in Lothian schools.

Earlier this month, the Evening News reported how an 11-year-old boy was suspended from a Musselburgh primary school after threatening a girl with a fork.

A police spokeswoman today confirmed officers were called to the East Lothian school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, after a report of an eight-year-old assaulting a teacher on March 5.

She said: "A teacher reported an assault by a pupil and an eight-year-old boy was subsequently charged with assault. A report has been sent to the Children's Panel reporter."

A spokeswoman for the council said the boy, who cannot be named, had been suspended temporarily from the school.

The attack did not involve any weapons, but was a "breach of acceptable behaviour", and she said council agencies, such as social workers and child psychologists, would now be working with the child and his family.

She said: "We have very strong procedures in place to tackle violence against council staff at the workplace, whether it's officers, schools or in the wider community. Involving police and consequently the Children's Panel we consider to be positive steps as part of a solution-focused approach.

"For learning and teaching to take place, we require safe environments and we will continue to involve police in any similar incidents."

But many local people were concerned by the incident. One parent said: "There's not enough discipline.

"There's a need for more structure for the pupils, and more security. The kids just walk all over the teachers.

"This should never have got to that stage. They should be able to handle an eight-year-old."

The teachers' union EIS has said it is worried about increasing levels of violence by pupils in schools.

Colin Mackay, the union's Edinburgh secretary, said: "Sadly, assault of teachers does happen.

"I'm very pleased to hear it's being pursued to the full extent of the law. People have the right to be protected against assault and general violence.

"We are obviously constantly working along with local authorities to try to control indiscipline. When you get behavioural difficulties the answer very often lies in reducing class sizes.

"The culture at the moment is teachers are not allowed to touch children without fear of litigation. There could be a problem brewing here."