Girl suffers suspected broken ribs during Sheffield school assault

Police are investigating a fight at Silverdale School in Bents Green after a 15-year-old was assaulted by a group of girls and taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs and a facial injury.

It came 15 days after 16-year-old Leah Green was also reportedly assaulted by a group of girls at the school.

Leah’s mum, Natasha Green, has called for more to be done to tackle violence.

She said: “Leah was eating in the dining hall when a girl came up to her and said she didn’t like what Leah had put on Snapchat. Leah shouted at her to go away. She then went into the toilets, where another girl in there started a fight with her.

“Leah came out of the toilets and this girl told the other group that Leah needed sorting out. They then pushed Leah onto the floor and kicked her. The whole incident could have been avoided if teachers who saw the initial dining hall incident had intervened.”

She said the punishments were not strong enough and police should have done more.

“The girls got a four day exclusion, but Leah was excluded for one day as well,” she said. “There was no victim treatment, only a punishment.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said of Leah’s case: “Police were called following reports a 16-year-old girl had been assaulted at a Sheffield school.

“The 16-year-old girl suffered bruising. As per the school’s policies, they are investigating the matter. If there is anything that causes concern or requires police involvement, this will be raised with officers.”

About the incident involving the 15-year-old, the police said: “The teenager was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs and a facial injury. A police investigation is underway.”

Silverdale School headteacher Roisin Paul said: “Silverdale does not condone or tolerate violence of any description in school.

“The incident to which the parent refers was thoroughly investigated and appropriate sanctions were given to all parties. This was fully discussed with the parent at the time, who understood and accepted both parties were at fault. We are not at liberty to discuss the second incident as it is now a police matter. However, there are no connections between both events, which are very rare incidents at Silverdale school.”