West Lothian mum takes son (9) out of school after he's diagnosed with anxiety due to school fights and violence

Emma Maclean withdrew nine-year-old Ruairidh from lessons on Friday 17 May after the terrified youngster told her “I’ve had enough, I’m not learning and I get distracted with the shouting” and said he never wanted to go back.

Ruairidh is in a P5 class of 29 pupils, six of whom have care plans to support their additional support needs at a primary school in West Lothian.

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Since then he has witnessed:

- A child with “anger issues” holding scissors to his own throat in front of the class, threatening to kill himself.

- Regular fist fights between two of the children who set each other off

- Chairs, books and fire extinguishers being thrown

- A child hit on the back of the head with rocks.

On one occassion the whole school assembly was stopped and all the pupils evacuated while a P5 pupil who launched a microphone into the crowd of cross-legged children was dealt with.

A clearly shaken Ruaridh, who was on the verge of tears, said: “I feel like something is going to happen any minute and when it does happen I feel like I don’t want to be in it.

“They throw chairs about and hit other people and it’s scary – the teacher blocks when one of the boys is going to throw a chair and tries to stop them throwing it.”

Ms Maclean, who lives in Winchburgh with Ruairidh and her other children Poppy, 11 and Lexie, who is just 15-weeks old, said she was meeting West Lothian Council on Monday to discuss the issues.

She said that Ruairidh had told her everything was “fine” when she asked him previously but then admitted he hadn’t mentioned how bad it was because “you had just had the baby”.

The family doctor has agreed that Ruairidh should not return to school until things are sorted out.

“He is worn out and is in constant state of fear of being attacked or hurt by something that is thrown at him and is also very conscious that his lessons are repeatedly interrupted.

“I am shocked to say that our GP diagnosed my son with anxiety – at nine years old.”

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “The council is committed to the education and welfare of all our pupils. We are aware of this case and will be meeting with the parents of the pupil in the near future. It would not be appropriate to comment further.”