A HIGH school has appointed a security guard after a former student allegedly attacked a pupil and a member of staff.Stowupland High School took the action after the ex-student, who is 17 and cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly carried out the attacks at the school.

A HIGH school has appointed a security guard after a former student allegedly attacked a pupil and a member of staff.

Stowupland High School took the action after the ex-student, who is 17 and cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly carried out the attacks at the school.

A youth was arrested after the incident on April 27 and he has indicated not guilty pleas to four counts of assault by beating, after appearing at Bury St Edmunds youth court.

A spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary said it was alleged an ex-pupil went to the school during lunchtime and punched a pupil and grabbed a teacher.

The spokesman said that the youth left the school, and was subsequently arrested.

Headteacher Karen Grimes said in a statement: “After lengthy discussions with the governors and the local education authority we decided to recruit a specialist from a security firm.

“So as not to alarm children or parents unnecessarily, we did not inform everyone of this at the time.''

It is anticipated that the security guard will continue patrolling the school grounds, until the case is formally dealt with through the courts.

The EADT understands the school is looking at ways of further improving pupil safety on a school that has more than 700 pupils, and is on a very open site.

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council, the local education authority, said: “Following the incident on April 27, the headteacher discussed the issue with the governors, many of whom have children at the school.

“After consulting with the county council, it was decided to take on a security guard until the outcome of the court case was concluded.

“It was important to ensure the school quickly re-established an atmosphere suited to learning and teaching and they have achieved that very successfully.

“This was an isolated incident in a county, which is well known to be one of the safest in the country.”

The youth will reappear before the courts on June 21.