A worried parent has called for a school to take more action over suspected "gang" style attacks after his son was knocked unconscious outside a pub.

The Meopham School pupil was left in blood-stained clothes and suffered a black eye and bruising following the incident outside the George Inn in Wrotham Road, near Gravesend.

According to an eyewitness account, the 14-year-old was set upon by a group of youngsters from the same school in an unprovoked attack while waiting to be picked up.

The boy, who is not being named, was taken to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford for treatment.

Police launched an investigation following the incident on July 14 which is understood to have involved at least two other pupils known to the teen.

In a letter to parents a day after the attack, head teacher Kate Girling sought to re-assure the community and explained the school was dealing with the incident in the "strongest terms".

She said: "I am sorry to say that a Meopham student assaulted another of our students outside the George pub in Meopham.

"I am horrified by the incident and extremely disappointed that a member of the Meopham School Community could behave in such a way.

"I can reassure you that the school has dealt with this in the strongest terms.

"We have undertaken a lengthy investigation ourselves and the matter has been reported to the police."

But the father of the boy has since spoken of his frustration following several meetings with the head and other leadership figures at Meopham which forms part of the Swale Academies Trust.

He has accused the school of sweeping the violent nature of the incident "under the carpet", telling KentOnline: "This was not a fight – they just jumped him and beat him.

"They are trying to suggest it was just one boy. They are trying to eliminate the thing about a gang.

"They are not sorting it out and it seems they are blaming the children who are getting beaten up."

Following the incident one pupil was excluded – although it is not understood whether this is temporary or permanent.

The parent of the injured child says there were numerous opportunities to de-escalate the situation and prevent the assault.

He said: "Basically there was a bit of a fight that broke out because of playing football and my boy went to break it up and it all escalated throughout the day.

"There was an incident where one of the younger boys tried to get in the classroom and the teacher was holding him back.

"It had got very vocal and threatening. They let him [my son] out [of the classroom] and the boys jumped him.

"One boy punched him round the back of the head and he went unconscious while they were punching and kicking him."

The dad has called for more action including greater presence of teachers at school gates and better communication with parents over potential problems.

He disputes the school's versions of events and has obtained eyewitness accounts from parents at the scene suggesting more than one other pupil was involved.

One parent said: "I stopped my car and got out to try to disperse the crowd that gathered quickly and help the boy that was attacked.

"It stated in the letter to parents that it was between two children but this was not the case. One boy was being attacked by several.

"Luckily, staff from the George Inn pub came out to help break it up because there were no staff from the school there at first."

After speaking with other parents, the dad of the injured boy, has since learnt of reports of other violent incidents.

He added: "My concern is I don't think they are taking it seriously. This has to be stopped. What is next? Knives?"

"I was shocked and horrified to think this could be happening all the time."

In her letter to parents last month, head teacher Ms Girling told parents the incident was being treated as an "isolated event".

She added: "Exclusion is the most serious punishment a school can administer.

"We have also spoken to all students to reiterate how abhorrent this type of behaviour is and how disappointed we are that an incident such as this brings the school's good reputation into disrepute."

"They are just trying to sweep it under the carpet like nothing has happened."

But grandfather John Harpwood says his grandson, 12, who attends the same school was attacked just two days prior to this serious incident.

John said: "I've complained to the school and they have given me a load of waffle. They are just trying to sweep it under the carpet like nothing has happened."

He added: "They should have more people outside the school."

However, some parents leapt to the defence of the school following criticism online and allegations of unaddressed bullying.

Mum-of-four Clare said her son was "jumped" by "opportunist thugs" in an incident outside the school gates two years ago.

But in her case she believed the school acted promptly and decisively and ensured the perpetrator was never in contact with her child again.

She was disappointed to learn of scathing remarks made of the school leadership online, adding: "I think they deal with stuff well and it is a fairly large sized school.

"But there will always be a parent who goes to social media to moan when they should be asking what do they want as an end result."

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "We are investigating a report of an assault which is alleged to have happened at around 3.15pm on July 14 in Wrotham Road, Gravesend.

"During the incident a teenage boy is reported to have been assaulted by two teenagers known to him.

"Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing."

Swale Academies Trust did not respond to a request for comment.