Hove schoolboy stabbed in classroom attack (From The Argus)

Hove schoolboy stabbed in classroom attack

9:00am Friday 13th November 2009 in

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A 13-year-old boy was stabbed by a classmate during a school lesson.

The teenager was attacked in the back with a pair of scissors by a fellow pupil at Hove Park School, in Hangleton Way, while other horrified children watched.

The incident is believed to have happened during a textiles lesson at the lower school at about 10am.

The injured boy was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital and released later from hospital.

A second 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assault and pupils who witnessed the attack interviewed by police.

The Argus revealed last week that a team of experts will be called into the school after GCSE results dropped by 10% in English and maths.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Police were called to Hove Park Lower School in Hangleton Way, Hove, shortly after 10am.

“A 13-year-old boy was taken to hospital with back injuries and released after treatment.

“The boy had been stabbed in the back. The exact extent of his injuries are not know, but he was released later from hospital so it is certainly not life threatening.

“We think he received a single stab wound. There is no suggestion it was a repeated or frenzied attack.

“We are fairly confident we know what the weapon was, and it was not a knife.

“A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assault and is being questioned by police. Investigations are continuing.

“Police are talking to potential witnesses.”

A three-line letter from the school to parents said: “One student has been taken to hospital and is now at home recovering and the other student has been excluded from school pending further investigation by police.

“We would like to take this opportunity to reassure all parents that this is an isolated incident that has not affected the health and safety of any other member of out school community.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City council said: “It is not serious in any sort of medical sense.

“The victim has been back into school with his father to talk to the acting head teacher and he will be okay to come back to school tomorrow.

“The school will be continuing as normal. Pupils and parents have been informed of the incident and the school will be co-operating with the police operation.”