Rising fears about violence and disruption at Lliswerry High School have sparked heated debate among parents, fuelled by social media footage, while the school insists recent incidents were handled appropriately and remain under investigation.
Concerns surrounding safety and behaviour at Lliswerry High School in Newport are prompting significant debate among parents, particularly in light of recent incidents that have been shared widely on social media. A recent article by the South Wales Argus sought to understand parental perceptions about the school amid these rising fears. While two parents offered supportive or neutral opinions, many others chose to remain anonymous, expressing deep dissatisfaction regarding alleged violence and classroom disruptions.
A father of a Year 11 pupil highlighted how social media exacerbates fears about the school environment, stating, “There is just too much social media footage and gossip about behaviour problems and fights.” He suggested that the culture of sharing videos online can lead to copycat behaviour, creating a cycle of unrest. Echoing this sentiment, a mother with a Year 9 child expressed her apprehensions, remarking, “There’s always worry,” despite not having experienced any serious issues herself.
Despite the prevalence of these fears, specific reports of violence within the school have not been conclusively substantiated. The main allegations involve the presence of gangs and bullying, alongside claims of revenge attacks. In response to these anxieties, the school has taken steps to engage parents by establishing a liaison group that meets with senior staff, signalling its commitment to transparency and collaboration in addressing concerns.
Interestingly, the narrative isn’t entirely negative. Some community members, such as Uday Patel, who runs a local store, maintain a more optimistic view of Lliswerry High. Patel reflected on his own sons’ positive experiences, attributing their success in higher education to the school’s solid educational framework. He remarked, “Things have got more difficult, especially in the last five years,” yet he believes that following clear behavioural guidelines can lead to improvements in student conduct.
The school administration has responded directly to the narrative surrounding its reputation, challenging characterisations of Lliswerry High as “crisis-hit.” They clarified that recent incidents, including some specific reports of violence, originated outside school premises and have since been appropriately managed according to Welsh government guidelines. The school emphasised that pupils involved have faced disciplinary action, asserting that any ongoing police investigations prohibit further comment on such cases.
These developments come amidst wider concerns about violence in Newport’s schools. Recent statistics reveal a troubling trend, with 121 incidents of violence, bullying, and intimidation reported to Gwent Police over a two-year period, prompting questions about the effectiveness of anti-bullying initiatives. Local authorities have defended their policies, claiming confidence in the protections offered to students.
Ultimately, while some parents express serious concerns about safety and behaviour at Lliswerry High School, with the echoes of social media amplifying these sentiments, others maintain a belief in the institution’s ability to nurture and educate effectively. The varying perspectives underscore the complexity of the school environment and the balancing act required of educators in ensuring both safety and academic success in challenging times.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/25194262.parents-react-alleged-violence-lliswerry-high-school/?ref=rss – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/school-rocked-violent-incidents-excludes-26852470 – Lliswerry High School in Newport has excluded two pupils and established a liaison group with parents and carers following violent incidents shared on social media. The school is committed to ensuring student safety and has taken strong sanctions against those involved. A group for parents and carers to meet with senior staff every half term has been set up to address concerns constructively.
- https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/23478233.lliswerry-high-school-pupil-assaulted-newport/ – A pupil from Lliswerry High School was allegedly assaulted near Spytty Stadium in Newport. The headteacher, Neil Davies, appealed for information regarding the incident, which occurred around 3pm. The school is working closely with Gwent Police to investigate the matter and ensure the safety of its students.
- https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24709076.reports-stabbing-teenager-near-nash-college-newport/ – An investigation is underway following a reported stabbing of a teenager near Nash College in Newport. The incident occurred around 3pm, with a heavy emergency services presence in the area. Parents reported the college being in partial lockdown. Local councillor Alan Morris condemned the violence and urged the police to apprehend the assailant swiftly.
- https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17794783.revealed-scale-bulling-issues-newport-schools/ – Concerns have been raised about bullying in Newport secondary schools after 121 incidents were referred to Gwent Police over two years. Figures from a Freedom of Information request reveal that 58 referrals related to violence, bullying, intimidation, assault, and battery. Questions have been asked about the robustness of anti-bullying policies, though the council says it has ‘full confidence’ in what schools have in place.
- https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/23543993.lliswerry-newport-residents-affected-social-media-kicking-trend/ – Residents in Lliswerry, Newport, have been left terrified after a spate of anti-social behaviour in which their front doors have been kicked late at night. People living in and around Cromwell Road have reported their doors being knocked on or kicked late at night, sometimes as late as 2.30am. CCTV footage from a doorbell camera in the area recorded just before midnight on Saturday, May 13, shows a man covering his face before kicking a door and running away.
- https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/04/school-leaders-england-wales-northern-ireland-say-parents-have-abused-them – A survey by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) found that four in five school leaders in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have suffered abuse from pupils’ parents in the past year. The abuse includes verbal, physical, and online attacks, with some leaders being spat at, trolled on social media, and even physically attacked. The NAHT is calling for the government to send a clear signal to parents that such abuse is unacceptable in schools.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be based on a recent press release from the South Wales Argus, dated 3 June 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 24 April 2024, reporting on a pupil’s alleged assault near Spytty Stadium. ([southwalesargus.co.uk](https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/23478233.lliswerry-high-school-pupil-assaulted-newport/?utm_source=openai)) The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. Additionally, the narrative has been republished across various low-quality sites and clickbait networks, which raises concerns about its originality. The presence of a press release typically warrants a high freshness score, but the recycling of older material and republishing across low-quality sites necessitate caution.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to parents and community members in the narrative do not appear in earlier material, suggesting they may be original or exclusive content. However, without access to the original press release, it’s challenging to verify the authenticity of these quotes. The lack of earlier matches for these quotes raises the score but also flags them as potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the South Wales Argus, a regional newspaper. While it is a known publication, its reputation and reach are more limited compared to national outlets. The report has been republished across various low-quality sites and clickbait networks, which raises concerns about its reliability. The presence of a press release typically warrants a high freshness score, but the recycling of older material and republishing across low-quality sites necessitate caution.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative discusses concerns about safety and behaviour at Lliswerry High School in Newport, referencing incidents that have been shared widely on social media. Similar incidents have been reported in the past, such as a pupil’s alleged assault near Spytty Stadium in April 2024. ([southwalesargus.co.uk](https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/23478233.lliswerry-high-school-pupil-assaulted-newport/?utm_source=openai)) The school’s response, including the establishment of a liaison group with parents and carers, aligns with standard procedures for addressing such concerns. However, the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets and the recycling of older material raise questions about the narrative’s originality and the accuracy of the reported events.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents concerns about safety and behaviour at Lliswerry High School, referencing incidents that have been shared widely on social media. While the quotes attributed to parents and community members do not appear in earlier material, suggesting they may be original or exclusive content, the recycling of older material and republishing across low-quality sites and clickbait networks raise significant concerns about the narrative’s originality and reliability. The lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets further questions the accuracy of the reported events. Given these factors, the overall assessment is a ‘FAIL’ with a ‘MEDIUM’ confidence level.
