Claim boy was trapped in school cupboard by staff

28 April 2019, 09:09 | Updated: 28 April 2019, 09:15

A six-year-old boy has been removed from school after allegedly being "trapped in a cupboard" by staff, a city councillor has claimed.

SNP councillor Elspeth Kerr said the pupil is too scared to go back to school and has nightmares about being trapped in the cupboard.

Ms Kerr, who represents Drumchapel and Anniesland on Glasgow City Council, said she has raised concerns with the school and local authority but does not feel the issue is being taken seriously.

Speaking at a fringe event at the SNP's spring conference in Edinburgh on violence against teachers hosted by teaching union NASWUT, Ms Kerr claimed the boy was held in what was called a "calm room" but was formerly used as a stationery cupboard and she described it as "disgusting".

She said: "When they (pupils) start kicking off they get put in this calm room and they get the door held shut so they are not allowed out.

"Currently this wee boy is not going back to school because he's waking up at 4am with nightmares about being trapped in this cupboard."

She said she has raised the issue with the head teacher and a senior education figure in Glasgow City Council.

Ms Kerr said the school is working with the child's parents, but claimed the head teacher "denies it is happening" and that a senior education figure had told her it is "not punishment, we prefer to term it something different".

The councillor added: "I'm getting absolutely nowhere. Why would you put your kid back in school when he's getting treated like that? You just wouldn't."

SNP MP Rona Mackay, sitting on the discussion panel, said: "That's a terrible situation."

She added: "If you put a child into a dingy cupboard or a room that's not going to solve anything.

"It's going to make matters worse, and it will give them nightmares."

Jane Peckham, NASUWT Scotland representative, said: "I'm concerned about that, I'm not surprised about the response you have had."

She added: "If it's not being addressed by the head teacher, and it doesn't surprise me that the (senior education figure) calls it by a different name, then that is of grave concern but I think the parents can be crucial in taking that forward as well."

SNP Clare Adamson, convener of Holyrood's Education Committee, told the event: "This is being discussed at the highest level, we are taking it seriously and hopefully we will be moving away from these situations."

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: "It would be inappropriate to talk about specific cases, however, any allegations of improper conduct are thoroughly investigated by senior officers.

"We always discuss the outcome with parents and look to return the young person to education as soon as possible."