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Teacher quizzed over 'attempted murder' of a pupil
A SCIENCE teacher was being questioned by police last night over the attempted murder of a schoolboy who suffered serious head injuries in a classroom attack.
Peter Harvey was also being quizzed about allegedly assaulting two of 14-year-old Jack Waterhouse's classmates at All Saints' Roman Catholic School in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
Officers were called in after paramedics arrived to find the teenager unconscious in a pool of blood at the entrance to a classroom in its science block on Wednesday morning
The 49-year-old teacher, who is local to the area, was arrested and last night remained in custody at Mansfield police station.
There were more than 20 youngsters in the classroom when it appears a row erupted between Jack and the teacher.
According to parents, Mr Harvey allegedly "snapped", lashing out at the boy with a weight used to teach science.
The teenager was taken to the Kings Mill Hospital in Mansfield, where his condition deteriorated, and he was transferred to a specialist head injury unit at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.
Police said there was initially grave concern for his life but his condition stabilised. Last night he was described as seriously ill.
He had not undergone surgery and his parents were at his bedside, officers added.
Another boy and a girl, both 14 and in the same year nine class, were recovering at home yesterday after allegedly being assaulted in the incident. They did not need hospital treatment.
Police refused to say if they were hurt after going to their classmate's defence.
A team of 12 officers have questioned the boy's classmates and police said they had a "full picture" of what happened.
Forensics officers examined the classroom, which was re-opened but not used for lessons yesterday.
Detective Superintendent Adrian Pearson said: "Obviously the whole class is traumatised by what has happened.
"People send their children here from great distances because of its academic record and what happened is very much out of character for the school.
"I know a number of parents have rung the headteacher about what has happened but I would appeal for everyone to be calm, particularly in relation to those people involved."
He added: "The school, the teachers and the parents are absolutely shocked. It was a full, lively classroom and I can understand the trauma to all the staff."
Parents at the school gates yesterday were stunned by the events.
One 27-year-old father said: "It's a massive shock and very sad because if there is something wrong with the teacher, it cannot be totally his fault."
Former pupil Tom Blythe, 19, described Mr Harvey as a "bit of a legend".
"He had this big bushy beard and would walk around the school. It must have been serious for him to snap. I used to see him riding his bike home and he was all right, to be honest."
Mayor of Mansfield Tony Egginton sent his daughter to the school.
He said: "It's exceedingly sad that this happened. All Saints is a very reputable school and it has performed extremely well.
"For this to happen is a bitter blow to their reputation."
All Saints, which has 1,100 pupils, describes itself as a "lively, Catholic comprehensive school with a very special, warm ethos". It was given a satisfactory rating following its last Ofsted inspection.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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