THE mum of the boy attacked with a hammer inside the grounds of The Ridgeway School has criticised the school for not dealing with her son's problems.

Liz Webster fought back tears as she addressed around 500 parents and students at a meeting designed to quell the hysteria surrounding the horrific events of last Thursday.

Speaking at tonight's meeting in the main hall at Ridgeway, Mrs Webster told parents she was representing her hospitalised son Henry after he told her to attend.

"We have had some frustrations before," said Mrs Webster. "Henry has had difficulties we feel haven't been dealt with adequately.

"We have come tonight because Henry wanted us to represent him here. He wanted to thank everyone for all their kind messages."

Mrs Webster said her 15-year-old son would be unwell for some time.

And she made an emotional appeal to anyone with information relating to the assault to contact the police.

"I'm astounded something like this can happen in Wroughton, and even more so that it has happened to us."

Ridgeway headteacher Steve Colledge told parents that a new security fence, CCTV and a shortened school day were measures being investigated by the school to improve pupil safety.

He told the hall that it was an "extreme incident" and said the school's narrow corridors made it difficult for teachers to police behaviour.

"We are concerned that the length of lunchtime means that at around 1.20pm boredom sets in and trouble starts," he said.

Chairman of governors Peter Lay said the school would permanently exclude any pupils found to be involved in the attack on Henry.

Meanwhile, police representatives said officers would continue to patrol outside the school until early next week and that a review would be carried out after that period.

For all the reaction to tonight's meeting see tomorrow's Swindon Advertiser.