A 12-year-old boy has been "punched, put in a headlock and stamped on" during an assault at a Watford school.

At around 12pm on Monday, November 6, the child was attacked at Future Academies Watford in Horseshoe Lane.

His dad said he was left with injuries that have been described as "bangs to the head", bumps and bruises.

The school has since temporarily suspended a pupil and a police investigation is underway.

The victim's father, John Limares, told the Watford Observer: "I heard pretty much straight away. 

"My wife called me asking if the school had called, because my son called her in real distress.

"The teacher then took the phone off him and started speaking to my wife. We later found out that was the vice principal and he witnessed everything.

"It was a very big shock, and we were very, very worried."

Asked how his son is feeling now, John continued: "He's fine, he's a 12-year-old boy so he doesn't open up as much as he might.

"I know he's thinking about it (the attack), but otherwise he does just get on with stuff so we're lucky in that respect."

John said he believes a three-day suspension is inadequate, adding: "I think it's unfair, a three-day suspension for what was an unprovoked attack on a young boy.

"It's about what message they're sending to these kids in the school, and what message they're sending to the person who has been attacked. That they can get away with it, and that you're not safe."

He said the attack was random, "they were just looking to beat somebody up", and criticised the school claiming it has "real issues" with kids' behaviour.

A spokesperson for Future Academies Watford said: "We have done a great deal to strengthen behaviour around Future Academies Watford.

"Not only have we been very robust in how we handle incidents where students have not made our high standards, we have also enhanced how we recognise students who make positive choices about how they interact with those around them.

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"The vast majority of our students have responded well to this, and we are proud of the efforts they are making.

"In this instance, we took strong action, in line with our behaviour policy, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely."

Herts Police are investigating the attack and urged anyone with information to contact them via 101, quoting reference 41/89561/23.