Boy, 12, beaten up by St Sampson’s High gang

Friday 5th March 2010, 2:30PM GMT.

Lewis Nagy with mum Lisa after he was set upon by several older boys yesterday morning.                          (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0298104)

Lewis Nagy with mum Lisa after he was set upon by several older boys yesterday morning. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0298104)

A 12-YEAR-old boy has a suspected broken nose after being attacked at St Sampson’s High yesterday morning.

Year 7 pupil Lewis Nagy was set upon by several other Year 8 and 9 boys who he said headbutted and punched him after threatening several days ago that they would. Although the boys have been excluded, Lewis said he was still scared to go back.

His mother, Lisa, a 35-year-old supervisor at Arrowsmith Marlowe, said Lewis had started at the school only in September but had changed over the last few months.

‘He was always top of the class, but now he is really struggling,’ said the mum of five. ‘Apart from that, the school said he was a pleasant, well-mannered boy.

‘Since Christmas he’s got in with the wrong crowd. I’m now wondering if it’s because he was being bullied and he thought they would protect him.’

Head teacher Hazel Tetlaw said the school knew of a problem.

‘The school was aware of the change in her son and had been working with the mother to try to explore the reason. In situations like this, it can take a long time for the real cause to be clear. In this case, it’s still not clear.

‘We were very distressed and concerned for him and offer sympathy for the whole family. He was very brave and we will ensure he is supported as much as possible on his return.’

  • Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.

  • To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.

  1. 1
    BoB

    This is terrible. Pupils in year 7 at a new school should not be treated in this manner.:(

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Mrs Mack

    I hope this young lad is feeling better soon and the vicious attackers get punished accordingly.

    Another incident caused by consolidating too many children into one school. There was nothing wrong with the schools as they were before.

    “If it ain’t broke, why fix it”?? Oh yes, to save the STATES money to spend on people that can’t be bothered to work and get off their backsides and earn a living like the rest of us!

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Emzie

    i was there when it happened and it was 3 boy’s in yr8 and lewis was calling them names

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Paiige

    I Think It Was NOT Right Of Them To Do That !

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    sarnia expat

    Our son has Asperger’s. We have been advised that St Sampsons High is the best place for him. With this sort of headline – we are now really worried. Obviously every school, regardless of if they are a college, or a grammar, or a secondary – has its share of troublemakers and bullies, but this thuggishness seems to be blighting this school more than others. What is the truth? Is this a well run school – or is it as bad as it seems on the outside looking in? Please someone tell me!

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    bucanneer

    St Sampsons has long had a poor record for dealing with the problem of bullying. Although, as head teacher Hazel Tetlaw states, it isn’t an easy problem to deal with, nor is it easy to catch the bullies in the act, and bullying can take many forms, including relentless verbal abuse, which is extremely difficult to deal with effectively; nonetheless, the problem can be effectively addressed and dealt with, provided the will to do so is in place. Unfortunately, that will has long been lacking at St Sampsons.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    SSHS parent

    I really do feel for this young boy, it’s horrible.

    BUT…

    is this really news worthy?

    It’s a fight in a playground.

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    GG

    I think he would have had to do something to have had vicious attacks, although if all he was doing was calling them names, then there’s no need to beat him up that badly.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    ALLAN

    DO NOT KNOW THE FAMILY BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PRESS AT AGAIN FOR A STORY WE HAVE KIDS THERE AND ITS NOT THE BRONX IT IS A FEWS KIDS TRYING TO BE GANGSTAS TAKE THEM TO UK THEY WOULD SOON CRY TO COME TO MUMMY THEY ARE WEAK AND THEY NEED TO REMEMBER THIS BUT AS EMZIE STATES THIS BOY WAS LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    stevey

    So what!! when I was at school this stuff happened all the time and it will continue to happen its part of growing up. I am a parent it is not nice to see. But he will be fine the injury’s are minor. The news should get a grip all this scaremongering is stupid its a school fight. I would not reconsider sending my children there as this happens at all schools the world over. I was a pupil under miss Tetlaw and I assure you she is very strict on these matters.

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    E&P

    Well Fristly,
    There Was Only 3 Boys And They Where All In Year 8.
    Also The Door To The Socail Was Open As We Where There As It Happened.
    There Was A Reason, The Reason Was That Lewis Was Calling Them Names,

    If Lewis Had Brought Alchol In To The School He Would Have Been Exculded.

    P.S – We Are From St.Sampsons High School And We Where there As It Happened.
    Thank You.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    Mrs Smith

    I really don’t know how anyone can blame The States for putting the schools together OR The Press for Publishing The Story. Who you really should be asking are the parents and their parenting skills. Children who need attention from their parents and dont get it usually go and and seek the attention in other ways. Children can only act on their up bringing and what they have been taught by their parents.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Ray

    If head teacher Tetlaw reads ‘This is Guernsey’
    perhaps she could do the island’s employers a favour by taking her English teacher to one side and telling him / her to pull their socks up if E & P’s effort above is anything to go by

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    nursie

    No need Ray, they’ll all get jobs in the banks being local, no need to be able to spell…innit.
    ………………………………….
    If head teacher Tetlaw reads ‘This is Guernsey’
    perhaps she could do the island’s employers a favour by taking her English teacher to one side and telling him / her to pull their socks up if E & P’s effort above is anything to go by

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    Karen Dodd

    Another States mistake, (how many more) Schoold was a big mistake from the start consolidating too many children into one school was asking for trouble, if this was my child there is no way they would be returning to this school

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    ALLAN

    WELL IT SEEMS THIS VICTIM WAS VERBALLY ABUSING OTHER PUPILS AND THEY HAVE THE CHEEK TO CALL THEM BULLYS LEWIS SHOULD BE KICKED OUT COMPLETELY AND THE BOYS EXCLUDED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND ANY OTHER KIDS THINKING ITS BIG SHOULD BE EXCLUDED AS WELL

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    schoolbully2010

    Mr Digard should be asking himself why this was made into front page news. Was it interests of the boy? Was it in the interests of meting out justice to the other boys involved? Is it fair to other 750+ students in the school? Why the vendetta by Mr Digard against St Sampsons? What about the similar incidents that have happenned at les Beaucamps and Elizabeth College in the last week. The school’s options are limited when inter family island feuds are carried over it’s threshold.

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    sarnia expat

    From the comments above made by pupils at the school (at least I hope it is the pupils) the general feeling is that it is OK to physically hurt another child if they are “calling you names”. Sorry, have I missed the point here? Amazing that it took several “big” lads to phsically assault ONE. But bullies who resort to violence always knock around in groups, they are never brave anough on their own are they?

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    Andy

    Education is the most important thing and unfortunately short sighted politicians cant see it. In the UK they now allow classes of 40 and wonder why things are getting out of hand.

    Report abuse

  20. 20
    Thisisguernsey

    ‘schoolbully2010′:

    There is no vendetta. The Press was approached by the family to publicise the matter because they didn’t think the authorities were dealing with it sufficiently firmly.

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    Rozeljoe

    @ E&P. Glad to see they teach English at St Sampsons High.

    Report abuse

  22. 22
    Maam

    All schools have problems and problem pupils. I have a child in year 7 who is happy and thriving at St Sampsons and I know of many others. As far as the size of the school, I attended a much bigger school in the UK decades ago, and again, it also had its problem element but on the whole most of the kids were well behaved as they are at St Sampsons. The media should show some respect and encouragement to our school instead of dissing it and lowering the moral of the pupils and the staff.

    Report abuse

  23. 23
    blah

    maam’s post is spot on. i trust the school to deal with this as per the rules and the police to deal this as per the law. the facts should be to the fore. calling names as a rule is not good and can be provocative but breaking peoples faces with violence is outrageous and unacacceptable. but you bet the politicians will only talk about vandalism against property and not violence against the person (see how many posts on this subject compared with the litle chapel windows post to prove my point) – why? because most violence is carriedout against working class people and most the property is owned by the rich. come on kids set your sights better.

    Report abuse

  24. 24
    Truth Man

    Thisisguernsey:

    I take your point, from your last point, but your response does not answer the question “why is an incident at St Sampson’s front page news, again”?

    I do not believe this was the best piece of news you could find, in the interests of the public, to put on your front page on that day. Therefore, it does bring me to the conclusion that you see St Sampson’s incidents as being ‘juicy’ and capable of selling papers. Is it really appropriate, and fair on the school and students to use their issues in this way for your own personal gain?

    The answer is no, it is not fair on the students, and it is not in the public interest either. In my opinion, of course.

    Report abuse

  25. 25
    Mini Tombs

    I feel sorry for the boy involved even if he did call the other students names, it does not call for such violence.

    Whether you have a big school or a small school, mixed school or same sex school, you will always have bullies and victims, unfortunately that’s just life.

    I do fail to see why this has hit front page news as when I was at school and saw someone get a smack or girls pulling out each others hair, their stories never made it into the press.

    Report abuse

  26. 26
    gys-overseas

    Really! Amazed.
    1.If it happended in the UK-all boys would still be in school.
    2.GYS youths ARE getting worse-BUT all youth behaviour is!
    3.I am a uk teacher. i have been called a bitch on numerous occasions, injured lots while seperating fights and most recently pushed 3 feet for telling a student they could not enter the building at 4.30pm! I can guarantee-he will still be in school on Monday!
    I believe it costs Uk schools £7000 per student they exclude. Exclusions look bad to new parents. Trust me. SCHOOLS are NOT the problem. Lazy arse parents are who think their kids do NO wrong and then the parents who think the world owes them a favour and its their right to collect benefits and a free education!

    Report abuse

  27. 27
    coco

    i am not into beating kids but i do think that some kids need a good smack/cane/slipper i had the slipper at school when i was a kid and i can tell you i never had it again.

    kids think they can do what they want treat ppl with how they want..if you gave them a smach when needed they would soon learn right from wrong

    Report abuse

  28. 28
    blah

    gys-overseas – i am sure your facts are right, but for the sake of your pupils i think you need to find another job.

    coco – read what you wrote ! you are not into beating kids, but you are into giving them a smack. and the difference is? how does giving a teenage school pupil (or anybody)a smack (be it a little smack, a medium smack, a large smack, or a headbutt) encourage them to accept that violence against the person is unacceptable? use logic rather than emotion and we might get beyond the caveman era.

    Report abuse

  29. 29
    Coco

    BLAH let me spell it out for you.

    1, i am not into beating kids ie.. smacking for the sake of ie..abusing the situation

    2, if my child needed a smack she would get one..without going to far

    3, look at children today since it has come in that you are bad parent if you smack your child kids are doing what they want.

    Report abuse

  30. 30
    gys overseas

    Blah
    My facts are right and Its not me as a teacher…..its called “inner city teaching!” All schools are the same. If its not abuse, there taking drugs or having sex in the toilets. Dealing drugs or bringing in knives or guns. Trust me the grass is not greener on the other side but it may seem to be in Guernsey. What remains to be seen is. If it was an isolated incident, the boys would not have been expelled, they must of had previous issues. I mean its not as if theres a seection of other schools for them to attend! I am sure the head teacher would of dealt with things accordingly. Oh and the head of my school has been removed pending many issues!

    Report abuse

  31. 31
    VQ

    I’m with Coco on this one – there is a distinction between smacking a child and beating a child. I see no harm in smacking a child who misbehaves and indeed I got smacked a few times as a child – and I soon learnt not to do wrong things again and have grown up to be a well rounded adult with manners and respect for other people – that is what is missing in today’s society and if I had a child, I would be quite prepared to smack them if necessary. I wouldn’t beat them, that’s a different thing altogether.

    Report abuse

  32. 32
    CheesedOff

    So am I VQ.

    Coco is right. Too many people don’t/won’t/can’t discipline their offspring who then grow up to believe they’re ‘untouchable’ and can do as they like.

    I received smacks as a child and it certainly didn’t do me any harm. It’s all part of the learning process.

    Report abuse

Campaigns

Voice For Victims Voice For Victims

Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.