A dad whose daughter was also the victim of a filmed attack says some fellow parents are frightened for younger children to start Waid Academy.
He spoke out after The Courier revealed two violent incidents had taken place at the Fife school on Monday – including one which was captured on video and showed a female pupil kicking another girl on the head and face as she lay on a classroom floor.
The father admits moving back to the East Neuk so his daughter could go to the secondary school he attended was his “biggest regret”.
He claims: “What happened the other day is a normal day at Waid.
“My daughter went through pretty much the same thing. Another girl attacked her.”
I want to know when my daughter goes to school that she is safe, and I don’t feel I do.”
Waid Academy parent
He says that even before Monday’s shocking events, parents were anxious about children moving up to the Anstruther school from primary school because of allegations of bullying.
He told us: “I have parents messaging me all day saying they are terrified to put their kids up to Waid.
“It’s shocking. That place used to be so highly regarded.”
He claims his daughter’s attacker was only off school for one day after the incident, and he is critical of how it was handled.
The dad says that when he approached the school for answers, he was told reporting procedures were in place and that if his daughter believed she was going to be attacked she should remove herself from the situation and report it.
He adds: “That system just gets kids bullied even more.
“I want to know when my daughter goes to school that she is safe, and I don’t feel I do.”
Teachers, he claims, are too scared to break up fights and he alleges the school never followed-up on incidents.
Parents ‘left hanging’
He says: “Parents are left hanging. I have had to go to parents’ doors to deal with issues myself.
“Generations of my family went to Waid.
“I moved back to the area to put my kids to Waid and it’s the biggest regret of my life.”
Head teacher Scott Duncan says the school was talking to pupils about the impact of incidents like those that occurred on Monday.
He said: “We don’t tolerate behaviour of this kind in our school and I can’t stress enough that this kind of behaviour is not indicative of the vast majority of pupils at Waid Academy.
“When incidents of fighting are reported to us they are fully investigated and we have very robust policies and procedures in school to deal with this kind of behaviour.
“Appropriate and proportionate consequences are always put in place.
“We work closely with families to support young people, making sure they feel safe and help them reflect and work on escalated behaviours.”
