Father accuses Islington school teacher of ‘dragging his 10-year-old son to a confined space and raining punches down on him’ amid bust-up involving another pupil

• READ: School suspends teacher amid probe into pupil ‘punched multiple times’

A father has accused an Islington school teacher of dragging his 10-year-old son to a confined space and ‘raining punches on him’ during a bust-up involving another pupil. 

Police are investigating allegations that a member of staff at Christ the King Primary School punched the child multiple times, leaving him in need of A&E treatment. 

Charles Etumnu said his son was on a staircase landing watching another pupil getting to trouble when it started. 

‘He then felt a forceful push from behind. He stumbled and regained balance and said ”Don’t touch me”’, Mr Etumnu told Sky News. 

‘The teacher then dragged him to a confined space on the landing and started raining punches on him.

‘He was trying to fend them off when other teachers came and pulled them off him. My son then started crying.’

Charles Etumnu (pictured) said his 10-year-old son was taken to a confined space before a teacher started ‘raining punches on him’

The Met Police said they received a report of an alleged assault on November 10, with the claims against the teacher only becoming public knowledge on Tuesday when a a video was released on social media

Mr Etumnu’s wife, the child’s mother, said she was told to come to the school following the ordeal. She said that when she arrived her son complained his chest was in pain. 

Mr Etumnu said: ‘He was restless and so shocked by what happened.’ 

A suspension letter, seen by Sky News, had been issued to the family on the same day, which alleges the child was ‘suspended for an act of aggression towards a member of staff’. 

It also claimed the child ‘injured a member of staff today in the playground’ and ‘hit them several times knocking off their glasses’. 

The father said he did not recognise the language used in relation to his son, adding: ‘He’s never been in a physical fight with anyone. So why would that happen to my son?’

The school rescinded the suspension within hours of the parents receiving the letter, the family said, after more information was uncovered. 

Three of the couple’s children had been enrolled at the school, but following the alleged handling of the ordeal the couple decided to remove them all. 

A pupil was allegedly punched by a teacher at Christ The King School in Islington, north London

The Met Police said they received a report of an alleged assault on November 10, with claims against the teacher only becoming public knowledge on Tuesday when a a video was released on social media showing Mr Etumnu confronting the deputy headteacher at the school gates. 

James Potts, Chair of Governors at Christ the King RC Primary School, said: ‘An allegation was made about an incident at the school in November.

‘As soon as the allegation was made, we took the matter extremely seriously and took all appropriate actions.

‘A member of staff was suspended at the time, pending a full investigation.

‘We are working closely with the Metropolitan Police, Islington Council and the Diocese of Westminster.

‘As part of our continued partnership with parents, carers and the wider community, we take the safety and well-being of our pupils extremely seriously, and are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all.

‘It would be inappropriate to comment further whilst an investigation is ongoing.’

A video, in which a staff member appears to say it is being dealt with by the police and says ‘it is not appropriate to discuss’ the alleged attack further, has been widely shared on social media.

The woman’s post included a video showing a man remonstrating with a member of staff, believed to be deputy head teacher, Tracey Lane, and asking why the teacher who supposedly committed the act was still working there

The account that posted the video, wrote that the alleged 10-year-old pupil was her nephew, saying: ‘I can’t believe I’m even writing these words, my 10 year old nephew was punched multiple times…at Christ The King School in Islington. The 10 year old had to go to A&E immediately after reporting severe pains across his chest and back areas.’

A spokesman for the Met Police previously said: ‘Police were contacted on Friday, 10 November following a report that a ten-year-old pupil had been assaulted by a member of staff at a school in Tollington Park, N4.

‘There were no reports of any serious injuries.

‘Safeguarding children remains our priority and we treat such allegations very seriously.

‘Those involved in this incident, along with several witnesses, are being spoken with and the investigation is ongoing.

‘We are working with partners, including the local authority and the school, to progress this matter as swiftly as possible.’

A spokesperson for Islington council said: ‘We are aware of these reports and are taking them seriously. We’re working with the school to investigate.’

Source: Read Full Article