Brynteg School and Bridgend College said they had both taken action after two 14-year-old girls narrowly avoided custody for a number of violent attacks in which they forced one victim to kiss their feet before then kicking them repeatedly
Security has been ramped up at a school and college where violent attacks on students took place. Two young teenage girls were convicted of a number of assaults and other charges and were sentenced at Cardiff Youth Court earlier this week.
Brynteg School and Bridgend College said they had tightened security since the attacks in which victims were punched, kicked, sworn at and threatened on site during the day. Measures include more security staff on site, spot checks and patrols.
The attackers, both 14 and from the Bridgend area, one of whom was just 13 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to one allegation each of blackmail, two allegations of actual bodily harm and two allegations of assault at Cardiff Youth Court on May 13.
The attacks on four victims took place between March 2 and 4 this year at Brynteg Comprehensive, Bridgend College, Pyle railway station and near to a leisure centre.
The older of the two assailants was already on a youth referral order at the time of the attacks with a previous conviction for actual bodily harm. The younger received a caution for possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place in 2024, the hearing was told.
Mobile phone footage played to the court showed how they attacked one of their victims in a school corridor, pulling her to the floor, kicking her head, punching her body and face and shouting abuse. Footage also showed a girl made to kneel on the ground at college and kiss her attackers’ feet before being kicked, hit and yelled at her. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
The older of the two attackers was given an 18-month Youth Rehabilitation Order with an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Order to include a 30-day activity with supervision and a 9pm to 7am curfew.
She was also barred from entering the area where the attacks took place and all education institutions apart from those she attends. She will also have GPS trail monitoring and was ordered to pay each of the four victims £60 compensation.
The younger of the two was given a Youth Referral Order and restraining orders were imposed in respect of the four victims, banning her from contacting them, including on social media, or going to their homes. Her parent was also ordered to pay each of the victims £60 compensation on her behalf.
Restraining orders barring them from contacting the victims were also imposed for four years.
After the sentencing, the school and college said safety was paramount and they had increased security as a result of the incidents.
A spokesperson for Brynteg School said: “The safety and wellbeing of all pupils remains a top priority for Brynteg School, and while awful incidents such as this are thankfully rare, we have been looking at ways in which security can be improved.
“Following a review of how the school site can be accessed during the day, we have used this information to introduce several new immediate measures which include having additional staff patrolling specific areas around the school during break and lunch times, and introducing a staffed entrance with new mandatory check-in procedures for all visitors.
“We are also developing further plans and are looking at additional longer-term options, such as a potential expansion of the school’s existing CCTV system.”
Bridgend College principal Viv Buckley said increased security measures were put in place across all the college campuses since the attack at a site there.
“The issue of student and staff safety is paramount in all that we do,” she said, adding: “We continue to be committed to the wellbeing and safeguarding of everyone in our learning community.
“We have enhanced duty manager presence, added on-campus security and increased ID badge spot checks. The college continues to work closely with partners to reduce any risk factors on our campuses.”
The measures come as schools across Wales report increased problems with behaviour and violence in schools. The Welsh Government is holding a behaviour summit to look at the problem this month.
Recent reports from Estyn have also highlighted concerns about bad behaviour at both schools and colleges. You can read more about that here.
