PARENTS have expressed their concern over bullying at Hermitage Academy after a second-year pupil at the school was found in possession of a knife on the premises.

The school’s parent council was told this week about the incident, which is understood to have been the result of concerns over bullying.

Head teacher Geoff Urie said the school’s anti-bullying policy was constantly under review – and promised that “severe action” would be taken to deal with any similar incident.

The parent council’s treasurer, Sheena Wain, told Monday night’s meeting: “A couple of parents have made me aware of an incident last week about a pupil having a knife in their possession as a result of bullying.

“What action was taken against the bullies involved?

“Parents are really, really worried. Drugs first, and bullying next, are every parent’s worst nightmare.

“We don’t want to criminalise the child who did this, but for somebody to take such extreme steps has alarmed a number of parents.”

Police Scotland’s youth engagement officer for Helensburgh and Lomond, Constable Craig Stamp, who was also present at Monday’s meeting, said the police had been made aware of the incident, on November 22, but that there was “no threatening or criminal conduct” involved.

Mr Urie said that discussing the incident in detail would be “unfair” on the pupil involved, but said a system was in place to deal with such situations.

The town’s MSP, Jackie Baillie, who also attended the parent council meeting at the school on Monday, said: “I agree it wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about the individual circumstances of this incident.

“But we’re all conscious of things that have happened in other schools. Is the school reviewing its policy?”

Mr Urie told the meeting: “The school does have an anti-bullying policy.

“This incident has been dealt with in the proper manner, but discussing this in an open meeting is not fair on the young person concerned.

“We are always reviewing what we do. If we are made aware of anyone coming to school with a knife, the most severe action will be taken. In every case we will inform the police.

“I would ask parents that if your child has a knife as part of a hobby please make sure it doesn’t come to school.”

The incident follows the death of 16-year-old Bailey Gwynne, who was fatally stabbed at a school in Aberdeen in 2015.

Anne Paterson, the council’s acting head of education, said: “Argyll and Bute Council’s education service, and West Dunbartonshire’s education service, are working with Police Scotland to look at the protocols on the back of that very high profile case.

“We’re very aware of what needs to be looked at.”

An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson added: “There was a concern at Hermitage Academy on November 22.

“Police attended afterwards, as is normal practice, and have since confirmed that there was no criminal or malicious intent.

“We take any untoward behaviour extremely seriously.

“Bullying is unacceptable. The council has an anti-bullying policy which covers all of our schools and pre-5 units. We emphasise to pupils the importance of treating others with respect and understanding.

“There is a strong focus at Hermitage Academy on the importance of positive, responsible behaviour, and teachers and pupils work together to achieve success.

“We can be proud of the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of our pupils.”

Constable Stamp also said there had been two drug-related incidents, both of them outside the school grounds, since the Advertiser reported parents’ concerns over drug issues at the school in October.