Furious household of woman, 12, ‘attacked at college’ demand solutions

The furious family of a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly attacked by a 17-year-old boy with a broken bottle have demanded to know how the suspect got onto the school site. 

The Year 7 pupil was in the reception area of Birley Academy, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, when the assailant, a former pupil, allegedly struck at 8.50am on Wednesday morning. 

The schoolgirl is believed to have been hit on the head in the attack – which also left two teachers injured.

A source close to her family said last night: ‘You’d think she was in the safest place. We want to know how he got onto the site. The school needs to answer questions.’

Police were called and the high school, which has 1,000 pupils, went into full-scale lockdown, with tearful children hiding under desks.

Neither the schoolgirl nor the two injured staff members – who are both female – were seriously hurt or needed hospital treatment.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old youth was arrested at the scene, Sheffield Youth Court heard yesterday.

Police outside the Birley Academy in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, where a 17-year-old boy was charged with three charges of attempted grievous bodily harm

A view of police at the scene at Birley Academy, Sheffield on Wednesday, May 1

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court on Friday lunchtime, charged with three charges of attempted grievous bodily harm and one charge of being in possession of a sharp or pointed article.

The court heard how the youth, who had a shaved head and was dressed in a grey sweatshirt, allegedly lashed out attacking the young girl and a first staff member.

A second adult was then attacked when stepping in to stop the commotion.

The boy – who the court heard has autism – was brought into court from police custody and spoke only to confirm he was not going to enter a plea at this time.

When asked by District Judge James Gould what his plea would be, he simply said: ‘No indication’.

Judge Gould remanded the teen into custody until his next hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on May 31.

Horrified parents have also questioned how the youth was able to enter the school site.

One mother, Ashlea Wolff, said: ‘We have been sent a letter by the school but it has given no indication as to how the child got into the school or what will be done to prevent this from happening again.

‘As a parent, I want to know what they will be doing to keep my child safe.’

Parents were sent a letter by Birley Academy headteacher Victoria Hall after the incident

An aerial view of the scene at the school after the teenager was arrested on Wednesday

A ‘scrum’ of mothers and fathers were waiting outside the gates to collect their children when pupils were sent home at 11am on Wednesday

Birley Academy was rebuilt in the late 2000s and pupils and staff have to enter via a reception area with security procedures for visitors.

Children described to their parents – many of whom were waiting to collect them after they were allowed home at 11am – how they were lying on the floor and hiding under the tables during the incident as lockdown procedures were enacted.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told MPs his ‘thoughts’ were with those injured in the attack in Sheffield.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan wrote on social media: ‘We’re in touch with the school and my thoughts are with those injured and all the school community affected by this frightening situation.’

A statement from The Birley Academy, which reopened as normal on Thursday, said: ‘The safety of students and staff is paramount and all students and staff are safe.

‘We would like to praise our staff for their professionalism and our students for the way they responded. We continue to work closely with the police and will update as required.’