Islington Tribune - News: Police probe into pupil's asault claim, Highbury Grove School

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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 4 April 2008

Police probe into pupil’s assault claim

POLICE are investigating an allegation that a male pupil assaulted a teenage girl in the grounds of Highbury Grove School.
A 16-year-old schoolgirl claims she was assaulted by a fellow pupil two weeks ago. The girl was not injured, and no arrests have been made. A spokeswoman for Islington Council said: “Allegations of assault are taken very seriously and the school will co-operate in any way it can with the police investigation.”
The assault claim comes as a resident living near the Highbury New Park school told the Tribune the loss of playground space while the school is being rebuilt is leading to fights between pupils.
The claim has been backed up by parents of pupils at the school, who have said their children have seen an increase in playground scraps since building work began.
One mother, who asked not to be named, said: “My son said there are more problems in the playground now because they are all tightly squeezed in. I don’t know what the school is supposed to do. They need to enlarge the school but they should come up with a different solution.”
A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The children are climbing up the walls. They are throwing things at each other. There’s not enough space for them to play.”
Highbury Grove is undergoing a £36 million revamp under the government’s Building Schools for the Future programme. While work is continuing, two playgrounds have been closed.
Deputy headteacher Henry Jones said he has received no complaints from parents about the lack of playground space.
“The school has taken measures to make this transition period during building work as easy as possible for students,” he added.
“Break times are staggered and PE lessons are now taking place at Market Road and the Sobell Centre rather than on the school site.
“Although some playground space has been lost due to the hoardings going up, there is still outside space available for pupils, including an area for ball games.”

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