Parents with children at Ashford’s Victoria Road Primary School say they are worried after a pupil left without staff realising.

A Year 6 pupil managed to walk out of the school after the morning lessons, and wander to the town centre.

It is believed the boy found a family member, who returned him safely to the school.

One concerned parent, who asked not to be named, said: “They have just tried to sweep it under the carpet. The first I heard of it is when my children came home and told me.

“It’s very concerning because you think ‘what if it was my child that had got out?’

“It’s definitely a worry for all us parents especially because if a child can get out, how easy is it for someone to get in?”

"We take the safeguarding of all our pupils extremely seriously," - Mrs Davies, Headteacher

Parents and carers have since been sent letters about last Tuesday's incident, reassuring them that the school’s security had been reviewed and that nobody could enter the school the way the pupil got out.

Head teacher Lisa Davis said: “On Tuesday, a Year 6 pupil left the school grounds during morning lessons after asking a member of staff if he could go to the toilet.

“The pupil then made his way to a family member’s place of work, arriving safely approximately 10 minutes after leaving school.

“We take the safeguarding of all our pupils extremely seriously and will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure they are safe and happy.

“We constantly review our safeguarding procedures, which includes site security, and we have done so again following this incident.

“We have met with the pupil’s parent explaining the measures we have taken to ensure this will not happen again.

"She said she was happy with the additional measures and the pupil is now in school as normal.”