MPs want inquiry into Ashford school after attack on black schoolgirl

MPs person demanded a schoolhouse is investigated aft a achromatic pupil was injured successful what constabulary described arsenic a superior racially-aggravated assault.

Distressing footage shared wide online showed the miss being punched, kicked and having her hairsbreadth pulled.

It led to protests extracurricular Thomas Knyvett College successful Ashford by radical acrophobic the schoolhouse did not bash capable to assistance her.

Head teacher Richard Beeson said "all indispensable steps" were being taken.

The onslaught spilled into the roadworthy wherever the unfortunate was acceptable upon by a radical of children arsenic bystanders looked on.

MP Janet Daby said she mislaid slumber aft watching the footage, which prompted a protestation extracurricular the schoolhouse attended by dozens of people.

The Labour MP for Lewisham East is 1 of a fig of MPs to person signed a missive to the location caput condemning the onslaught and Surrey Police's statement of it arsenic "a fight" betwixt girls.

In the letter, the MPs said: "Given that this onslaught is perchance racially motivated, the statement of this incidental by Surrey Police arsenic a 'fight betwixt a radical of girls' wrongly misrepresents the seriousness of the incidental and the interaction specified connection whitethorn person connected the achromatic community.

"We truthful inquire what discussions [the Home Office] has had with Surrey Police regarding this statement and that this is corrected arsenic a substance of urgency."

Surrey Police has been approached by the BBC for a effect to the MPs' letter.

Speaking successful parliament, Ms Daby asked that the Department for Education "look into what practices are not and are taking spot successful that schoolhouse regarding safeguarding, and besides code the nonrecreational show of the schoolhouse teachers".

In response, Penny Mordaunt, person of the House of Commons, said: "It is being investigated, and of course, those investigations are abstracted from government. Quite rightly so.

"I volition write... to rise her concerns, to the caput of state."

In a connection shared connected Twitter, the school's caput teacher, Richard Beeson, said: "We tin guarantee you that we are taking each indispensable steps to guarantee this isolated incidental is dealt with and that pupil information is our paramount concern."

The BBC has approached the schoolhouse for comment.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Race Equality successful Education tweeted: "We judge determination are inactive immoderate precise superior safeguarding questions for the schoolhouse to answer."

Surrey Police officers were called to the junction of Salcombe Road and Stanwell Road successful Ashford astatine 14:30 GMT connected Monday.

Officers earlier described the incidental extracurricular Thomas Knyvett College arsenic "distressing" and asked radical not to stock videos of it connected societal media.

Following Wednesday's demonstration, a unit spokeswoman said: "A planned protestation took spot extracurricular the Thomas Knyvett College yesterday day successful effect to a serious, racially aggravated battle which occurred successful the country connected Monday.

"Officers were contiguous astatine the country to guarantee the information of each those successful attendance."

A 39-year-old woman, a 16-year-old miss and 2 11-year-old girls were arrested connected suspicion of attempted racially aggravated grievous bodily harm (GBH).

A 43-year-old antheral and the 39-year-old pistillate were besides arrested connected suspicion of kid neglect and intentionally encouraging and assisting the committee of an indictable lone offence.

The 16-year-old miss was besides arrested connected suspicion of malicious communications.

Surrey Police said each those arrested person been released connected bail until a day successful March.

Ch Insp Dallas McDermott said: "We cognize this volition beryllium concerning and upsetting for the victims, their friends and family, and for the wider assemblage who are understandably shocked and outraged astatine the unit successful this video.

"I privation to marque wide that the suspects being bailed does not mean justness won't beryllium pursued further oregon achieved."

A sixth suspect, a 15-year-old girl, is being urged to manus herself in.