A PAIR of Kingsdown School pupils have been excluded after footage apparently showing a child being beaten up circulated on social media.

The clip, which was originally shared on Snapchat but has since been posted to Facebook, shows one of the Stratton pupils on the floor with another on top landing punches to their upper body. Both youngsters are wearing their school blazers, although incident did not take place on school property.

In a letter to parents, Kingsdown headteacher Emma Leigh-Bennett said two children had been excluded and would face “appropriate sanctions”.

“As soon as this incident came to our attention, we contacted the police and we continue to work closely with them.

“High expectations are at the heart of everything we are doing and trying to achieve at Kingsdown School and our school grounds are a safe space for all our students. Safeguarding will continue to be a crucial part of our daily work.

“Incidents like this significantly undermine the transformation taking place at Kingsdown and the sense of pride that we all have in our school.

“I remain determined that the school must take a firm line on antisocial and dangerous behaviour.

“I would like to assure you that the incident involved a very, very small minority of students. They are making the wrong choices on their way home from school.”

Mrs Leigh-Bennett later told the Swindon Advertiser: "It's very damaging for the children involved. It's very damaging for our school and we sincerely hope this will never happen again."

Since the incident took place, the school had changed the theme of its assemblies to look at acceptable behaviour and was working closely with the police.

The headteacher, who started at Kingsdown in 2017, said the school had a network of anti-bullying ambassadors, trained students meant to be a friendly ear for pupils who had bullying concerns. Teachers were more visible, wearing hi-viz vests during lesson changeovers. She added: "But we can't be everywhere at once, which is why I'd appeal to parents to be talking to their children and report anything of concern."

The Swindon Advertiser approached Wiltshire Police for comment.