Pupil's 'life-changing' injuries at Northallerton School

The mum, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the teenager now needs skin grafts after the incident at Northallerton School and Sixth Form on Friday (October 4). 

Emergency services were called to the school at about 1.10pm, following reports of an "altercation" between pupils, with ambulances, police cars and an air ambulance seen at the school.

The Areté  Learning Trust, which is responsible for the school, says that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Northallerton School & Sixth Form College (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Initial reports suggested that the 15-year-old's injuries had been sustained in the altercation, which was broken up by staff.

However his mother said he was seriously hurt as he "attempted to climb over the metal spiked fence to escape". 

The outside of the school and sixth form (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He caught his arm on top of the fence and "degloved" it - leaving a sizeable wound with blood pouring out and "life-changing" injuries.

After getting to the other side of the fence, having not realised the extent of the injuries to begin with, his mum said he then collapsed and "blood continued to pour out of his arm".

Northallerton school gates (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) She was called by Northallerton School, and raced to the scene of the incident, where she was met by teachers and "screaming blue lights" with police, ambulance and the air ambulance. 

The pupil was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where it was decided that he would need reconstructive surgery.

The outside of Northallerton school gates (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) According to his mum, if the area does not regenerate in two weeks, surgeons will remove some skin from his thigh to graft onto the area. 

She said her son will be "scarred for life physically and psychologically" and has since deregistered him from Northallerton School. She said he "wasn't out of control and was no threat to the other pupil involved or to the staff" and criticised how he was restrained in the aftermath of the altercation.

She added: "It will be bad enough for him to have to pass the fence every time he goes into town and back.

"My son is on the SEND register. The normal practice when he becomes dysregulated is to call me as I can get through to him if teachers cannot.

"It is clear that an incident like this was always going to happen with the school’s unwillingness or inability to manage the SEND students in their care."

Concerns about the school's provision for pupils with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) had been raised prior to last Friday's incident, with a meeting held for parents to discuss issues on Friday, September 27.

In response, Northallerton School said that the "Areté  Learning Trust is investigating the events of last Friday (October 4, 2024).  It would be inappropriate for the trust to provide further public comment on this matter."