Student assaulted at John Gray High School

Police have arrested a group of students who attacked a fellow pupil at John Gray High School on Wednesday.

A video of the attack, which was circulated on social media, shows the boy being set upon by two others at the school’s gym locker room. The assailants are seen punching the victim and then kicking him in the head when he falls down, as other students watch and jeer.

The Department of Education Services issued a statement later Wednesday condemning the assault.

Department director Mark Ray said in the statement, “Upon receiving reports of the incident, school staff acted quickly to ensure the victim received medical attention. We extend our heartfelt support to the victim and his family and are committed to working with the school to provide counselling support to help him through this difficult ordeal.”

According to the statement, school staff alerted the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service school resource officer, who apprehended and took the attackers into custody.

“In the interest of maintaining a safe and nurturing learning environment for all children, the school has decided to temporarily exclude the assailants from the school. Such conduct is unacceptable in our educational institutions, and we hope this action sends a clear message that violent behaviour will not be tolerated in our schools,” Ray said.

He added that the department’s “top priority” was the safety and well-being of students, “and we want to assure parents, guardians and the rest of the community that we are taking swift and decisive action in response to this unfortunate incident”.

He encouraged all students to report incidences of bullying to a trusted adult, saying, “Your safety and well-being are our top priorities, and we are committed to taking all necessary measures to address and prevent such incidents in the future.”

He also urged parents to have “open and honest conversations with their children about the importance of treating others with kindness and respect”.

All schools in Cayman are mandated to have anti-bullying policies, following changes to the Education Act last year.