By Jack Fifield, SWNS

A dad who feared his autistic son would be killed at school after bullies threatened to stab him has pulled his child out of school.

Bullies held up a blade of glass and told Alex McGarrie, 14, that they would stab him at Hazel Grove High School in Greater Manchester.

Dad David, 68, said Alex had 'no friends' and was regularly beaten up at the school, despite being well-liked at his local darts club, where he is nicknamed 'Hotshot Alex'.

The final straw came after bullies filmed themselves pinning Alex to the ground and hitting him, before posting it to social media.

David said: "I had already had the threat of my son being stabbed. The school said 'academically we can do all this'.

"I said 'A GCSE A* is no good to a child lying on a slab in a mortuary.' I said 'it's going to escalate, there is either going to be really, really serious injury done to Alex, or he could be killed.

"They could punch him and his head hit the pavement, as it has happened numerous times, where that person has died."

(Image via SWNS)

David said the teenager, who was diagnosed with autism aged two, had 'thrived' at primary school – but after making the transition to secondary school, things went downhill.

Bullies would torment his son 'every single day, bar none', according to the retired fireman.

Incidents started off at a lower level – with a group of girls on a school bus pouring water on him and throwing his tie out of the bus when he was back in year seven.

However, things escalated the following year, when the youngster was aged just 12, when a bully pulled a blade of glass on Alex and threatened to stab him.

David said: "He didn't tell anybody at school because he was so frightened. He waited until he got home, told me, and I instantly told the police.

"The police went into the school and looked through the CCTV and saw it. They went around to the girl's house. 

"We don't know what the final thing was, but the girl wasn't suspended from school."

(Image via SWNS)

Later, David said, the school told him they would record any incidents of students targetting Alex – but he says he's not seen any evidence this happened.

Further incidents included boys punching Alex, hitting him on his back in the PE changing rooms, and throwing him to the floor in school corridors.

It wasn't until February this year when David finally decided to pull Alex out of school, after mum Sally, 51, saw a video on social media of her son being pinned to the ground and beaten – something Alex hadn't even told his parents about.

Despite reporting the incident to Greater Manchester Police, David said an officer told him that they would not arrest somebody under the age of 18 for an incident at school.

David said: "I will fight tooth and nail for my son, as any parent would when they're being victimised.

"The school has done nothing, he's been forced out of that school – he's the victim.

"The school have said 'we will help you find another school if you want', and 'we can't keep him safe' – the principal has said he never said that, he did – he said it in front of me and my wife.

"If I didn't keep my son safe, social services would take my son off me."

(Image via SWNS)

A spokesperson for Hazel Grove High School said: "While our records and accounts do not mirror all the information that this family has shared, we are sorry to hear of any family who feels that their experiences at our school do not match the expectations and aspirations that we have for each child's education.

"We work tirelessly to ensure our school is a place of nurture and excellence – and this has been recognised and praised in the external validation we have had. Situations of bullying are rare at our school, but we will always listen and look to enhance everything that we do. 

"We will continue to work closely with our students to embed our values and expectations.

"In relation to this family, we have met with them at length – and had hoped that a positive way forward had started to be found."

(Image via SWNS)

Tom Morrison MP, who represents the area of the school, said: "We've all been shocked at the footage that was shared online showing the attack on Alex. 

"Since then I have been in touch with the school and the local authority and held meetings with both to discuss my concerns and to find a way forward. 

"These conversations have been positive and I am determined to work with both to ensure that all children feel safe in their community. 

"I'll keep those parents who have contacted me updated at all times."

Local MP Lisa Smart MP said: "All children should feel safe and secure at school and bullying should never be tolerated. 

"Any child or parent worried about something that's going on at school should raise it with the school leadership. 

"I've met with concerned parents, young people and senior school leaders and will continue to work with them to get our young people the education they deserve."

Greater Manchester Police and Stockport Council have been contacted for comment.

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