School under fire after seven white pupils ‘whip and chain’ black student A school in Bath has come under severe criticism after it refused to expel pupils who allegedly tied up and […]

A school in Bath has come under severe criticism after it refused to expel pupils who allegedly tied up and whipped a black student as part of a “mock slave auction”.

At least seven white teenagers chained a fellow pupil to a lamppost and whipped him with sticks and yelled extreme racist abuse at him in reference to the slave trade, according to the Bath Chronicle.

Police are investigating the incident, which took place on the school grounds in January.

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Kind and gentle

But the school, which the paper has not named in a bid to protect the victim’s identity, has come under fire after it chose not to permanently exclude the pupils involved.

Instead, it is understood the school leadership team temporarily suspended the students, allowing them to return to classes alongside their victim.

While the victim’s parents chose not to comment, other parents at the school were outraged by the decision.

One couple, who both have mixed-race children, said the response from the school board was insufficient.

“The boy it happened to is just the sweetest little thing ever. He’s so sweet and kind and gentle. It just makes it even worse,” the parent told the paper.

“The thing is I’ve got a mixed-race child and so has my partner. They believe nothing will happen to white children if they behave badly but something happens to them.”

And they added: “Someone has to be held accountable for it. Someone has to say sorry.”

Media interest

The school has since issued parents with the following statement: “We have today become aware of media interest in an incident which took place in January and involved a group of established friends and related to a single incident of unacceptable behaviour within the school grounds.

“A full investigation was instigated in line with both internal school procedures and Department of Education requirements, including contact with the police.

“You can be assured that the school has taken this incident exceptionally seriously and that our absolute priority was, and remains, that the right path is taken for all those involved as well as the wider school community.

“Given the on-going police investigation and the need to protect all those involved, you will understand that it has been necessary to maintain confidentiality and consequently that the school does not wish to comment further.”

Police investigation

A police spokesman said: “We were made aware of an incident at [name of school], Bath, on January 22, which took place around lunchtime.

“Enquiries are ongoing and the school is assisting.

“Six boys have voluntarily attended a police station and another has agreed to voluntarily attend.”