A Freedom of Information inquiry by The Courier shows Waid Academy reported fewer than five bullying cases in 2021/22.
But not even three weeks of 2023 have passed and the Anstruther school is in turmoil after two assaults on pupils on the same day.
On Monday, a schoolgirl was assaulted in a classroom at the Fife school, with a video capturing the moment another girl pulled her off her chair on to the floor before kicking her multiple times in the face and on the back of the head.
“To be frank I wish I had not seen it [the footage], I can’t get it out of my head,” said Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife.
Within 48 hours it emerged a boy was attacked outside Waid Academy on the same day, with an eyewitness claiming the youngster was knocked unconscious.
Unsurprisingly, the incidents – which the school opted not to report to police initially – have prompted questions around safeguarding and accountability.
‘Fobbed off with general comments’
Linda Holt, a former councillor for the East Neuk and Landward ward, claims concerns she raised about behaviour at the school last year were ignored.
Ms Holt, whose daughter has been a victim of violence at another school, also cited the Covid shutdown and its impact on the mental health of pupils when articulating her thoughts on the Waid Academy trouble.
She told The Courier: “When I was a councillor I raised parental concerns about discipline at Waid with the then principal, only to be fobbed off with general comments about behavioural problems in all schools after lockdown.
“My own daughter has been subject to two physical assaults from fellow pupils in the last fortnight.
“The continuing impact of lockdown is undoubtedly a factor.
“But there is little sign that Fife Council has a grip of the situation which has seen an increase in pupil-on-pupil violence and pupil-on-teacher violence.
“It is wrong that these fights and similar ones are not automatically reported to the police.”
Why were officers not made aware of the Waid Academy assaults sooner?
That’s a question many observers have asked since The Courier published its first story, on Tuesday night, about the trouble.
Police made aware of incidents
That evening, head teacher Scott Duncan said: “This incident was dealt with swiftly and proportionately and we are continuing to work with those involved and their parents.
“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.”
But on Wednesday, shortly before we published an article on the second attack, he revealed officers were now aware of what happened.
Murray Gibson, Community Inspector for North East Fife, said: “We have become aware of two incidents involving pupils at a school in Anstruther, which both took place on Monday, 16 January.
“Officers have liaised with the school and will be carrying out further enquiries into these incidents.
“We will continue to work closely with our education counterparts throughout this process.”
Retired police officer Graham Goulden, who worked on the force’s violence reduction unit, was stunned at the handling of the situation.
He told The Courier: “The victim could have died.
“That kick to the head could have led to a serious injury or death.
“The school requires to reflect and ensure that such incidents are brought to the attention of the police.”
At First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon was asked by Mr Rennie about the events.
She said: “I have not seen the video that he raises here today but I will if it is still available.
“It is important we have a full understanding of the issues.
“Violence is never acceptable and the safety of pupils and staff is paramount.
“We can’t comment further on the specifics of Waid Academy but I am clear that violence towards anyone is unacceptable.”
Impact on reputation of Waid Academy
The Courier has received messages from relatives of both girls in the past 24 hours.
The parents of Monday’s classroom assault victim have declined to comment on this week’s events while a family member of the attacker also accused Waid Academy chiefs of burying their head in the sand over issues raised previously.
It is a sorry affair that has, in the eyes of several mums and dads we have spoken to, damaged the image of an institution whose last inspection report raised no red flags.
And social media is omnipresent in this story.
On various platforms, speculation about the incidents and those involved is rife, with worried mums and dads expressing typical parent concern.
But it is also where multiple pages are being allowed to post videos of Fife school fights.
Lib Dem councillor Fiona Corps, whose East Neuk and Landward ward is where Waid Academy is based, told us she had received a number of calls regarding events at the school and the part played by social media.
She said: “My genuine concern is that these sites cannot be shut down and the regulators of these social media pages do not seem to care.
“They are clearly encouraging this kind of activity to take place and allowing the bullies to fight and gain recognition for their efforts.
“Yesterday’s incident is not an isolated one, these fights are happening right across the country.
“Some fights are clearly organised and filmed for all to view.”
‘Where does this stop?’
She added: “I have now seen the footage from Monday’s [first reported] altercation and I am sickened to the stomach.
“My son attends Waid Academy and I do not send him to school thinking for one minute that he may not return home in one piece.
“So where does this stop? Do our teachers now have to be trained as police officers?
“Is restraining techniques and self-defence now going to be part of teacher training?
“How do we educate our young people in realising that one kick or punch can be fatal and that people do not always get up and have extra lives like they do in a computer game?”
Councillor Corps sympathises with those in charge of the school.
She said: “Personally, I do not think Waid Academy is to blame for this fight or facilitated it in any way.
“Having watched the footage, if this [classroom] fight had happened away from the school would the assailant have stopped the beating, or would the victim have been kicked within an inch of her life?
“I have been assured by the Rector that this incident is not indicative of the vast majority of pupils at Waid Academy and the school is working closely with all those involved and their parents.
“There are very robust policies and procedures in place to deal with this kind of behaviour within the school and it is being dealt with in an appropriate manner.
“If the family of the victim decide to press charges against the assailant, they are entitled to do so.”
