BB gun fired at schoolboy
An 11-year-old Shropshire schoolboy was "almost blinded" when fellow students fired ball-bearings at his head, his father said today. An 11-year-old Shropshire schoolboy was "almost blinded" when fellow students fired ball-bearings at his head, his father said today. The boy was in the playground at the Grove School, Market Drayton, when two other students fired a ball-bearing air gun they had brought into school. The 43-year-old father, who is from the Market Drayton area, said: "I was shocked and angry and really felt for my son because he is not an aggressive person. "He was half scared to death because he was supposed to be safe at school but instead got shot in the left temple and just below the hairline." He said his son, who he described as "well-liked and happy-go-lucky", was playing tag when he was struck. The victim suffered no injuries apart from red marks on his skin and has continued attending school. The father praised school staff who investigated, leading to three pupils being suspended. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
An 11-year-old Shropshire schoolboy was "almost blinded" when fellow students fired ball-bearings at his head, his father said today.The boy was in the playground at the Grove School, Market Drayton, when two other students fired a ball-bearing air gun they had brought into school.
The 43-year-old father, who is from the Market Drayton area, said: "I was shocked and angry and really felt for my son because he is not an aggressive person.
"He was half scared to death because he was supposed to be safe at school but instead got shot in the left temple and just below the hairline."
He said his son, who he described as "well-liked and happy-go-lucky", was playing tag when he was struck.
The victim suffered no injuries apart from red marks on his skin and has continued attending school.
The father praised school staff who investigated, leading to three pupils being suspended.
But the boy's father believes the school should have immediately called a board of governors' meeting to discuss more serious punishment for the alleged offenders.
He said: "I want the culprits to be prosecuted because if my son had been shot one inch the other way he would have been blinded."
Jane Radbourne, Grove headteacher, said today: "Keeping children safe in school is a key priority for us and this matter is being thoroughly investigated."
Robin Chowdhuri, head of communications for children and young people's services at Shropshire County Council,the local education authority, said: "The council and all schools take any allegation of assault on a pupil very seriously and this case is currently being investigated.
"The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our priority and if parents are unhappy with the actions of the school there is an established complaints procedure that they can follow."
Maria Hawkaluk, for West Mercia Police, said: "Police have received a report of an alleged incident at a school in Market Drayton on Wednesday and are working with the school to investigate."
By Tom Johannsen
