Boy, 15, Hit With Hammer

A 15-year-old boy was pinned down in a school playground and hit repeatedly around the head with a hammer yesterday afternoon by a gang of men who entered the school at the end of the day.
He was set upon by at least four men who came into the tennis courts at the Ridgeway school in Wroughton, Swindon, at about 4pm, according to witnesses.
The year 11 student was last night being treated for head injuries in hospital and his condition was described as stable. Eight men were arrested and were being held at the Gable Cross police station in Swindon, Wiltshire.
The school's principal, Steve Colledge, who was on duty in the grounds when the attack happened, said: "It's a shocking incident." He said the boy was "bleeding profusely, but [was] conscious at all times. He was able to tell us what happened and we were able to talk to him."
Mr Colledge said there had been a similar incident at the school before he took up his role as headteacher in September.
The mother of one child, who did not wish to be named, said an incident before Christmas may have been the trigger for yesterday's attack.

Headmaster meets parents

One woman told him her son had been attacked by Asians and claimed racism was rife in the comprehensive.

She said: "This was a racist attack. The school has a racism problem. Is it going to take one of our children to die before they do something?"

Another parent said: "I'm not having my son coming to school. He was attacked last year and nothing was done about it."

Police have been questioning staff and pupils about the assault. Up to 100 pupils are thought to have witnessed the attack.

Mr Colledge told reporters that the incident could have happened as a result of an argument between a white and an Asian pupil.

He said it is predominantly a white school, with Asian pupils making up less than 5%, and counselling would be offered for children who witnessed the incident.