THE deputy headteacher of a Carlisle secondary school has issued a statement following an alleged 'race-hate' incident that shocked the city.

A video of the incident - which appeared to show a black student from the school being assaulted by white teens - emerged last Friday and sparked widespread condemnation.

Declan McArdle, deputy headteacher from St John Henry Newman Catholic School said: “The whole school community has been shocked by the appalling events which took place last Friday afternoon.

"The actions of the individuals concerned fly in the face of our Catholic ethos of inclusion, diversity and belonging to which the school is committed.

"These are values which we believe are shared by the vast majority of our pupils, our parents, as well as all our staff, and which we will be reaffirm in response to this disgraceful incident.

“We will work tirelessly to address the root causes of such hateful behaviour and ensure that our school is a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or background.

“Above all, our thoughts are with the boy himself, his family and friends who the whole school and local authority are supporting in every way we can to recover from this very distressing incident.

“If your child has any concerns or questions relating to this incident, we will be there to support them. This offer is also there for parents and carers.”

Alongside Mr McArdle's statement, councillors and council officers have also spoken out.

Cllr Mark Fryer, leader of Cumberland Council said: “Our schools and communities should be inclusive and welcoming environments for all. I am committed to addressing systemic racism and making Cumberland a fairer and safe place to live.

“The school is fully investigating this matter and taking the appropriate action."

Martin Birch, director of children and family wellbeing at Cumberland Council, added: "My team and I have maintained regular contact with the student and their family, as well as with the school, offering support and ensuring the necessary assistance and guidance are readily available."

Cumbria Police arrested four teens in connection with the incident. They have since been released on bail as the investigation continues.

Temporary Superintendent Gill Cherry from Cumbria Police said: “We continue to reassure the community that we take this incident extremely seriously.

"We understand an incident like this can be concerning for many and has caused shock to anyone viewing the images circulating online. Additional patrols have been deployed in the area and we will continue to engage with key community stakeholders as our investigation continues.”