Robert Buckland Weblog

It is only now that I am able to write about the shocking and dreadful event that took place at The Ridgeway School, Wroughton, on Thursday 11th January. A 15 year old pupil, Henry Webster, was viciously attacked with at least one weapon within the school grounds just after the end of the school day. I am glad to report that the police have now made nearly a dozen arrests in connection with their wide-ranging and energetic investigation into this assault. Three people have been charged so far.  Henry has had to endure surgery for what were serious and life-threatening head injuries, but is now recovering at home.
My interest and involvement with this event is deep, beause I am a governor at the school. I was glad to be present at a meeting with nearly 600 parents in the School Hall on Monday, and had the opportunity to spell out the general criminal law in this area. Parents were looking for information and reassurance. Their clear message was that security measures were needed to restore or boost confidence amongst parents and pupils. I was particularly moved by a speech from Henry’s mother, which was a dignified, constructive and impressive contribution that set the tone of the evening.
The school has prided itself on being open and accessible. What no-one expected was that a group of non-pupils would deliberately invade the school grounds in this manner. Wroughton is not an inner-city estate, but a pleasant village in an affluent area. Sadly, it seems that a permanent structure is now necessary, and I am glad to note that action will be taken to build a security fence around the built-up parts of the school. A fence around the entire perimeter of the school grounds would be a very large project, fraught with difficulties over rights of way etc. A tighter system controlling entry and exit from the school will be used. I shall be monitoring developments and pressing for parents’ concerns to be met as far as reasonably possible.

I do hope that the posting of unpleasant and racist messages on local newspaper websites will cease. Having been near to the centre of events, it is particularly galling to read comments by people who simply do not know the facts and who have nothing to do with the school. The Ridgeway School community is strong and cohesive. This event has shaken us all, and it will take some time to recover. Henry will be away for two months. We owe it to him to learn from this awful experience and to make sure that the whole school recovers from it.