A shocking video has emerged of a girl apparently being bullied at Tenterden’s Homewood School. But the principal has insisted the situation is under control.

In the grim footage, which has been viewed thousands of time on Facebook, a teenage girl is pushed and shoved by another girl while dozens of other pupils watch and film the scene on their phones.

The victim can be seen trying to get away but is followed by her attacker and crowds of other schoolchildren.

In a statement this week Homewood principal Sally Lees said the disturbing footage is from an incident at the Ashford Road school in July.

She said: “We are aware that a video has been posted on a Facebook page relating to an incident which took place at Homewood.

“We believe the police have also been made aware of the post.

"This incident was fully investigated at the time – we will never accept any bullying or intimidating behaviour towards students and we take robust action to address these situations when they arise.

“Students at Homewood almost always treat each other with respect and tolerance, but there are times when students do not behave appropriately and we have a clear behaviour policy which sets out the action we will take under these circumstances.

“We cannot discuss sanctions taken against individual pupils but our sanctions are set out in our Ethos for Learning Policy, which is available on our website.

“The posting of this video has been distressing for those involved and staff at the school have met with the family to provide any support we can.”

The video was shared to Facebook site Brawl Park, which posts videos of street fights, and attracted more than 30,000 likes.

It received hundreds of comments, with many people condemning the vicious attack.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said: “This is not the first time the pupils at this school have caused mayhem.

“I have had to write to the head teacher twice about rotten antisocial behaviour on the school buses. Nothing ever seems to improve.”

It is understood the footage has since been taken down from social media.