Family angry as 'death threat' boy back at school

A father has said he is furious that a seven-year-old pupil is being allowed to return to school after allegedly threatening to kill his son, four, with a screwdriver.

Stuart Vale said the boy was expelled after the incident was reported back in September, but he said the school told him the decision had since been reversed on appeal.

When contacted by the BBC, Colmers Farm Primary School in Rubery, Birmingham, said it did not comment on individual cases.

Mr Vale, from Rednal, said his son was now "very upset" and felt too afraid to go to school on Monday.

The older boy confronted his son in the playground on 18 September, he said.

"He then said he was going to kill my son, and proceeded to pull a screwdriver out of his pocket," said Mr Vale.

Mr Vale's son ran away, and the boy was excluded after staff at the school got involved.

Jonathan Livingstone - a therapist and psychologist who works with children and families - said it was "extremely rare" to hear about instances of violence in primary schools ,and particularly among children under the age of eight years old.

Children were not "intentionally wicked" he said.

He said it was important for the child who had been threatened to be protected, and to be given reassurances so that they felt safe.

They also had to be given a chance to talk about how they felt, he said.

He added it was "equally important" to address the needs of the child who had made the threat.

"That child may well also be a victim," he said. "If this threat was real, and with real intent, then there is something serious probably going on in that child's family."

In an "ideal world" they and their family would be supported, he said.

Exclusions from schools are subject to a number of review and appeal processes.

Colmers Farm School's exclusion policy states that "suspensions and permanent exclusions will sometimes be necessary as a last resort.

"This is to ensure that other pupils and teaching staff are protected from disruption and can learn in safe, calm, and supportive environments."

It adds that the governors can review exclusions at its discretion and at the request of parents.

"In each case, the decision of the relevant committee formed by the governing board will be to decide whether to uphold the exclusion or suspension, or instead to reinstate the pupil to the school," according to the policy.

Government guidance also requires schools to offer an independent review panel if parents of an excluded child are unhappy with the outcome.

Mr Vale's son was not physically injured during the incident, but he said his son and daughter were "traumatised" by what had happened.

He added: "They were upset for a week or so after, but when they knew they'd never see him again they were more comfortable going back to school."

Mr Vale said he felt the school had a duty of care to protect his children, and they were not doing that by allowing the seven-year-old to return.

"There was violent intent there," he said.

"You don't bring a screwdriver in from home and then threaten to kill another child with it."

He said the school had told him in future the child would be searched before being allowed onto the premises.

However, Mr Vale said he believed the child should be permanently excluded from the school.

"Me and my wife, we are fuming about this," he said.

He said his son was "very upset" to learn the boy would be returning, and that he was considering withdrawing his son from the school as a result.

"He's gone from being a happy child again to being upset again," Mr Vale said.

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