AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a teacher was taken to hospital after being attacked by a pupil at a Barrhead primary school.

The member of staff, believed to be the head teacher of Springhill and Auchenback Primary, Jannette Black was taken to the New Victoria Hospital after the assault on Wednesday.

East Renfrewshire Council said "appropriate and proportionate action was taken in liine with council policy" was taken but would not discuss what that was. Police Scotland were not notified.

It came amidst allegations that there had been previous occasions where the head teacher has been attacked by a pupil and has been witnessed on serveral occasions trying to restrain children while being kicked and punched.

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: "No serious injuries were sustained and the member of staff involved did not require hospital treatment, however, did attend a local minor injuries unit as a precaution.

"Incidents of this nature are extremely rare in our schools and we have a zero tolerance approach to violence at work. Any claims which suggest otherwise are simply untrue. Any incident relating to violence which is reported to us is investigated thoroughly and the appropriate action taken."

One parent raised concerns that incidents were "becoming more frequent" and talked about "the lack of effective leadership at the school to combat violence and the continued refusal of East Renfrewshire Council to accept that there are serious issues"

But the council added: “We do not accept claims that have been made about the management of either our schools or the Education Department.

"In fact, in a recent Education Scotland report on this school highlights a number of areas of improvement which have been achieved under the current management. In addition, more than 90% of staff, parents and pupils all reported positively on the leadership, behaviour and safety of the school.”