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Mid Kent College student allegedly attacked by classmate faces transfer

A teenager says she is terrified to go back to college after allegedly being attacked by another student - but has been told she must move campus if she wants to avoid being in the same class.

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses to the reported assault, but Mid Kent College says it can take no action until that investigation is complete, as the incident happened off its grounds.

The Mid Kent College Campus at Oakwood Park in Maidstone
The Mid Kent College Campus at Oakwood Park in Maidstone

The victim said she was pushed into the road and then kicked in the head and has required three trips to Maidstone Hospital since the assault last month.

It is said to have happened in Tonbridge Road, off the college's campus at Oakwood Park in Maidstone.

Her mother said: "She has suffered nausea, headaches and blurred vision ever since and has been advised by doctors to rest for two weeks."

She has been told that unless she chooses to transfer to the college's other campus in Medway she may find herself in the same class as her alleged attacker.

Her mother said: "The attack was completely unprovoked and naturally my daughter is terrified of going back to class. Anything might happen."

Steve Hyland, spokesman for Mid Kent College
Steve Hyland, spokesman for Mid Kent College

The college reassured her saying: "All tutors and staff will be made aware aware of the situation. "They will ensure that the two girls are always supervised and never working together.

"Security will also be made aware of the situation and your daughter will be able to access support from the welfare team and the opportunity coaches."

But the victim's mum said it was unacceptable that her daughter would be the one told to move campus.

Mid Kent College said it was not able to adjudicate on the alleged assault itself as it happened off college property and so was a police matter.

The college's director of marketing, Steve Hyland, said: "It is not appropriate for us to take any action while the the matter is under investigation by the police. That's our policy.

The injured girl has been offered the chance to transfer to Mid Kent's Gillingham campus, above, which is 12 miles away
The injured girl has been offered the chance to transfer to Mid Kent's Gillingham campus, above, which is 12 miles away

"Our aim is to keep both parties in learning."

He added: "I understand the mother's concerns, but there's nothing we can do until the police investigation concludes."

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Officers are investigating a report of an assault on a teenage girl by another girl in Oakwood Park, Maidstone, at around 12.30pm on Thursday, September 23." Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting 46/189570/21.

KentOnline cannot publish the victim's name or photographs of her injuries for legal reasons.

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