Furious parents in Edinburgh are demanding immediate action after a series of horrifying videos showing pupils being brutally assaulted circulated online, raising serious fears for child safety at Firhill High School.
Graphic Footage Sparks Parental Outrage
The disturbing incidents, captured in multiple clips shared on social media, depict shocking levels of violence. One video, apparently filmed in a school bathroom, shows three boys attacking a younger pupil who is heard pleading for them to stop.
The terrified victim shouts "help me" as he is repeatedly kicked by the group. In a particularly brutal moment, one attacker picks the boy up and slams his head against a sink. The boy reportedly sustained a fractured rib and nose from the assault.
A Pattern of Violence and a 'Lack of Consequences'
Another clip shows a group of boys fighting in a wooded area, where a terrified boy is seen curled up on the ground being kicked repeatedly. Voices in the footage can be heard screaming, "F***ing stop, that's enough, stop it."
A third video shows two girls fighting outside, pulling hair and kicking, with one girl being thrown onto the pavement and kicked several times. An anonymous parent, speaking out of fear for their child's safety, said there is a recognised culture of impunity at the school.
"There have been many fights since my child started high school in August, with videos to go with them and kids getting sent to hospital," the parent stated. "It shook me to my core as a parent. One of the boys involved has been in many fights, and is still in school the next day."
The parent added that in the wooded area incident, two boys ended up in hospital with concussions. They expressed a desperate hope to "push the school to take action towards the feral kids at this school, and help parents feel more at ease sending their kids to school."
Education Chief 'Deeply Shocked', Pledges Urgent Action
In response to the outcry, Edinburgh's education chief, Councillor James Dalgleish, said he was "deeply shocked" after viewing the footage. He sought to reassure parents that the matter was being treated with the utmost seriousness.
"To be absolutely clear, bullying and behaviour of this kind is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Dalgleish asserted. "School should be a safe environment where children and young people can learn and thrive, and I can only imagine how the victims and their families must feel."
He confirmed that action has already been taken by the school’s leadership and pledged his full commitment to working with the school, education colleagues, and Police Scotland to address the issue urgently. He also vowed to ensure the victims receive all necessary support following the "awful incidents."
The circulation of these videos has ignited a fierce debate about pupil safety, disciplinary measures, and the role of social media in amplifying youth violence within school communities.
