Lexi, 12, was hit by a car outside Waterhead Academy in Oldham, causing three fractures to her leg. She had rushed out of the school gates to collect her school planner from her stepdad
The parents of a 12-year-old girl who broke her leg when she was hit by a car claim an ‘outdated and excessive’ school rule’ is to blame.
Anthony Adams says his step-daughter Lexi “panicked” and ran out of the gates at Waterhead Academy in Oldham after forgetting her school planner – a mistake which he claims would have earnt her six hours in isolation. He was on his way to the school to bring her planner when Lexi left the school grounds to meet him but was hit by a car outside, causing three fractures to her leg. Lexi will now miss an end-of-term school trip to Blackpool because of her injuries.
Waterhead Academy’s headteacher said an investigation has been launched following the incident “to understand if any lessons can be learned”. Anthony and Lexi’s mother, Jade, from the Greenacres area of Oldham, say they believe the school must shoulder some responsibility for what happened to their daughter.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “The school had a culture day where children could wear different clothes instead of their school uniform. Lexi usually keeps her planner in her blazer which is why she forgot it.
“As they get to school there is a teacher on the door who asks them if they have a planner and if they have not got one they are sent straight to the isolation room. Lexi got to the teacher, then realised she did not have her planner and texted me to ask her to bring it to school.
“I was on my way and she came out of school panicking to grab it. She should not have been allowed to leave the school premises because the pupils are under the school’s care. A teacher has asked her where she is going and she has said to get her planner. Because the school deem it so important they have let her out of school.
“In rushing and panicking she has come over the zebra crossing outside the school. But there was a van blocking the crossing and she came around the back of it a car has come up and hit Lexi. I had arranged to meet her at the usual drop off point I have with her.
“She was rushing because she didn’t want to be late for school as well as that would have led to a detention. She had arrived at school at about 8.15am and this happened at about 8.25am on July 11th. We had a meeting with the school’s principal and he did not want to answer our questions or take any responsibility for them letting Lexi out of school.”
Lexi was taken to Oldham Royal Hospital and spent four days there, requiring surgery to insert a metal plate to her leg. Anthony said: “This was the first and only time Lexi had forgotten her planner during the school year. Despite this, she was told she would face full-day isolation.
“Panicked and frightened, she left school to go and retrieve it – unsupervised, during school hours, and while under the school’s duty of care. This was a completely avoidable incident, driven by a rigid and inappropriate policy that prioritises punishment over student safety and wellbeing.
“When I raised this with the Principal, Mr Wilson, in a meeting yesterday, he was not at all forthcoming. He refused to answer direct questions, did not acknowledge any failings on the school’s part, and offered no apology or sign that the policy would be reviewed – let alone changed.
“This raises serious safeguarding concerns and leads me to question how many other children could be at risk due to similarly harsh and outdated disciplinary measures. A child should never be so afraid of a minor mistake – especially a first-time offence – that they run out of school and end up in hospital.”
The school has now pledged to investigate the incident Dad Anthony said he had been given a date of September 9 for the final outcome due to the summer holidays, which he described as “outrageous”.
James Wilson, head teacher at Waterhead Academy, told local media: “We can confirm that a Year seven student was injured on Friday, July 11, while crossing the road outside the school. Thankfully, the injuries are not life-threatening, and our thoughts are with her and her family as she recovers.
“We will be following our procedures and conducting a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident to understand what happened and whether any lessons can be learned.”