Latest news with #WhitburnAcademy
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Positive response to music video by West Lothian man who says the sound of his voice would clear a room
Scott Kerr released a TikTok video of himself singing to inspire others A West Lothian man who claims he can't sing and that his voice could clear a room has released a TikTok video of himself performing a cover song to encourage others to follow their hearts. Scott Kerr, 37, from Whitburn has labelled himself a 'terrible singer', but put himself out there by releasing the video of of him singing the song Absent Friends, on TikTok, which coincided with Mental Health Awareness week. He wanted to let people know that despite all the negativity in the world you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. A former pupil of Whitburn Academy, Scott has been delighted with the positive feedback he's been receiving despite his own candid admission that he's never been known for his dulcet tones. 'I can't sing but I like to sing,' Scott said. 'I'm an absolutely terrible singer and can clear a room with one word or sentence. 'I do love all sorts of music. I listen to music a lot and I like a lot of different musicians and bands. 'I sing karaoke all the time down at the Olde Market Inn. I get quite a lot of comments from people saying I can't sing and stuff like that, but I just thought I'd give it a try with recording the video.' Scott has recorded a second song, his rendition of the traditional folk ballad Spancil Hill and is also aiming to put that out on social media. His message to people is to ignore the doubters and do whatever makes themselves and others feel good. He continued: 'Singing makes me happy. I was in Livingston centre today and people were coming up to me and complimenting me. 'There's all this negativity in the world, you shouldn't let it get to you. I've proved everyone wrong who's given me negativity . 'You can achieve anything you want to in life.'
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Daily Record
"Helpless" teen battered in street and filmed by yobs too scared to go to school
Jennifer Storrar said her initial complaints to the police and her daughter's school were not taken seriously, leaving her "helpless". A Scots mum has said her daughter is still terrified to go to school, weeks after she was set upon in the street by a gang of youths, who also filmed the shocking incident. Jennifer Storrar, whose daughter Skye is a pupil at Whitburn Academy in West Lothian, previously told how the 12-year-old was reportedly punched and kicked in the middle of the street. The 36-year-old told our sister title Edinburgh Live that she had reported the incident on April 29 to both the school and Police Scotland, but that no further action was taken. However, after Edinburgh Live approached the force again, it confirmed a 13-year-old girl has now been reported to the relevant authorities following an alleged assault. A spokesperson for West Lothian Council also confirmed the local authority is to continue working with the police and families involved to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. The frightening ordeal left Skye covered in bruises as she appeared to be attacked while lying on the pavement. In shocking video footage shared by Jennifer, other schoolkids can be heard laughing in the background. The mum refused to let Skye return to school for the rest of the week, and said she was left "helpless" after her early complaints were "passed back and forth" between the police and Whitburn Academy. She said: "I feel like the situation has not being taken seriously at all. Two weeks later I was no further forward with the police as they stated it was a school matter, but the school reported it back to them. "Nothing seemed to be progressing and meanwhile my daughter was scared to go to school. As a parent I was feeling helpless and increasingly worried for her wellbeing." After learning a girl had been reported in connection with the assault, she added: "I believe the time it took to trace the girl was unacceptable, and the police response felt dismissive - referring to her as 'only 13' undermines the seriousness of the situation. "They initially stated it was a school matter and the school stated it was a police matter so they both were passing the buck. "Many young people today view getting into trouble with the police as a rite of passage - something to be proud of, rather than deterred by." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Tuesday, 29 April, 2025, officers received a report of an assault of a 12-year-old girl on West Main Street, Whitburn. 'A 13-year-old girl has been reported to the relevant authorities in connection.' A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: 'Whitburn Academy takes all allegations of bullying seriously, with staff working to provide a safe and supportive environment for all pupils. 'While we have no control over what takes places outside the school grounds, we will continue to work with both Police Scotland and the families concerned, to ensure the issue is addressed and resolved as quickly as possible.' Our Kids ... Our Future has demanded the Scottish Government to ring-fence funding in safe spaces for kids in every community, where they can be nurtured, mentored and guided. In addition, we have called on social media giants to introduce robust measures to ensure violent clips of teens do not circulate on platforms.
Edinburgh Live
15-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian mum says daughter scared to go to school weeks after 'incident filmed'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian mum says her daughter is terrified to go to school - weeks after she was allegedly attacked in the street, with the incident filmed. Jennifer Storrar, whose daughter Skye attends Whitburn Academy, claimed her 12-year-old child was punched and kicked in the street as fellow pupils filmed it on their phones. The 36-year-old reported the incident to both Police Scotland and Whitburn Academy, but said no further action was taken. However, after being approached again by Edinburgh Live, police confirmed a 13-year-old girl has now been reported to the relevant authorities following an alleged assault on Tuesday, May 29. A spokesperson for West Lothian Council also confirmed the local authority will continue to work with police and the families involved to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The terrifying incident left Skye covered in bruises as she was seemingly punched and kicked while lying on the pavement. In a shocking clip, shared by Jennifer, other pupils could be heard laughing in the background. (Image: Supplied) The following day Jennifer refused to allow Skye to attend school for the rest of the week and was left "helpless" after her initial complaints were 'passed back and forth' between police and the school. She said: "I feel like the situation has not being taken seriously at all. Two weeks later I was no further forward with the police as they stated it was a school matter, but the school reported it back to them. "Nothing seemed to be progressing and meanwhile my daughter was scared to go to school. As a parent I was feeling helpless and increasingly worried for her wellbeing." After finding out a girl had been reported in connection with the assault, she added: "I believe the time it took to trace the girl was unacceptable, and the police response felt dismissive - referring to her as 'only 13' undermines the seriousness of the situation. "The fact I had to threaten to go back to the papers was the only reason she was charged as they initially stated it was a school matter and the school stated it was a police matter so they both were passing the buck. "Many young people today view getting into trouble with the police as a rite of passage - something to be proud of, rather than deterred by." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Tuesday, 29 April, 2025, officers received a report of an assault of a 12-year-old girl on West Main Street, Whitburn. 'A 13-year-old girl has been reported to the relevant authorities in connection.' A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: 'Whitburn Academy takes all allegations of bullying seriously, with staff working to provide a safe and supportive environment for all pupils. 'While we have no control over what takes places outside the school grounds, we will continue to work with both Police Scotland and the families concerned, to ensure the issue is addressed and resolved as quickly as possible.'
Daily Record
02-05-2025
- Daily Record
Mum hits out after '40 pupils' watch and film attack on daughter at school
The sickening attack was filmed and shared on social media leaving Skye terrified of going back to school for the rest of the week. A furious mum has called on her daughter's school to take action after "40 pupils" watched and filmed her child being brutally attacked by a fellow pupil. We told on Tuesday how the 12-year-old was battered by another girl who landed blows to her head with her fist while several others watched on. The girl's mother, Jennifer Storrar, has now spoken out claiming it is not the first time Skye has been targeted at Whitburn Academy, in West Lothian. The 36-year-old says the sickening attack was filmed and shared on social media leaving Skye terrified of going back to school for the rest of the week. Jennifer says a 'gang of 40' pupils gathered at lunchtime near the school on East Main Street before Skye was dragged to the floor and punched and kicked in the head. She told Edinburgh Live: "We've mentioned bullying to the school a number of times regarding my daughter. She was actually attacked at the start of school in August as well. "I think it's actually disgusting. At the time they changed one bully's timetables and moved his class but there's been multiple instances I know of, not just involving my children. "Where this took place is just a warzone for fighting and anti social behaviour during school break times. The school need to stop students from leaving at lunchtimes as anti social behaviour like this is rife." Police are also carrying out inquiries following the assault and the local council also confirmed that they are aware of the incident. It is understood those involved will be spoken to by school staff and action will be taken where necessary. Jennifer says the school have been supportive but says more awareness and education around the effects of bullying need to be put in place as it "no longer stops at the school gates." She added: "I'm not saying my daughter is an angel 24/7 - she's a typical teenager and has her moments. But no child should ever have to fear being assaulted. Violence is never acceptable under any circumstances. "What I really want is for the girls to make peace and for the school to take stronger action. Children should remain on school grounds during lunchtime unless there's clear parental consent. "I also believe there has to be more education around anti-bullying. When I was a child and experienced bullying, at least home was a safe space. But in 2025, bullying doesn't stop at the school gates — it follows children everywhere through smartphones and apps like Snapchat. "My daughter's video was viewed over 40,000 times on Snapchat alone. Social media companies need to take greater responsibility and tighten controls to prevent this type of thing spreading." The incident comes after the Record launched the Our Kids ... Our Future campaign two years ago in response to an epidemic of youth violence in Scotland. Our Kids ... Our Future has demanded the Scottish Government to ring-fence funding in safe spaces for kids in every community, where they can be nurtured, mentored and guided. In addition, we have called on social media giants to introduce robust measures to ensure violent clips of teens do not circulate on platforms. A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: 'We are aware that video footage of an incident that happened out with school grounds involving Whitburn Academy pupils is currently being shared on social media. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'While we have no control over what takes places outside the school, we will speak to the pupils involved in the incident and their parents/carers, and take any appropriate action. 'Whitburn Academy takes all allegations of bullying seriously, with staff working to provide a safe and supportive environment for all pupils. It is not appropriate to comment further on specific incidents.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Tuesday, 29 April, 2025, officers received a report of an assault on West Main Street, Whitburn. Enquiries are at an early stage.'
Edinburgh Live
01-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian mum says '40 pupils' watched and filmed her daughter being attacked
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A furious West Lothian mum has called on her daughter's school to take action against bullies after her daughter was brutally attacked by a fellow pupil. On Tuesday we reported how the 12-year-old was battered by another girl who landed blows to her head with her fist as other pupils stood and watched while filming on their phones. The girl's mother, Jennifer Storrar, has now decided to speak out, claiming it is not the first time her daughter Skye has been targeted at her school - Whitburn Academy. Jennifer, 38, says the appalling attack was filmed and shared on social media, leaving Skye petrified of going back to school for the rest of the week out of fear of being attacked again. Jennifer says a 'gang of 40' pupils all gathered before the incident took place on the town's East Main Street at lunchtime before another pupil dragged Skye to the floor and dealt blows to her head with punches and kicks. (Image: Supplied) The Whitburn local also claims the area in which this took place, outwith school grounds, is a "warzone" at break time and said the only way to resolve the issue is refusing to let pupils leave without parental consent. Since being made aware of the incident Jennifer says the school have been supportive, but says more awareness and education around the effects of bullying need to be put in place as it "no longer stops at the school gates." Speaking to Edinburgh Live she said: "We've mentioned bullying to the school a number of times regarding my daughter. She was actually attacked at the start of school in August as well. (Image: Supplied) "I think it's actually disgusting. At the time they changed one bully's timetables and moved his class but there's been multiple instances I know of, not just involving my children. "Where this took place is just a warzone for fighting and anti social behaviour during school break times. The school need to stop students from leaving at lunchtimes as anti social behaviour like this is rife." Police are also carrying out inquiries after the assault was reported to them by Jennifer. A spokesperson for West Lothian Council also confirmed it is aware of an incident which was filmed and shared on social media. It is understood those involved will be spoken to by school staff and action will be taken where necessary. Jennifer added: "I'm not saying my daughter is an angel 24/7 - she's a typical teenager and has her moments. But no child should ever have to fear being assaulted. Violence is never acceptable under any circumstances. "What I really want is for the girls to make peace and for the school to take stronger action. Children should remain on school grounds during lunchtime unless there's clear parental consent. "I also believe there has to be more education around anti-bullying. When I was a child and experienced bullying, at least home was a safe space. But in 2025, bullying doesn't stop at the school gates — it follows children everywhere through smartphones and apps like Snapchat. "My daughter's video was viewed over 40,000 times on Snapchat alone. Social media companies need to take greater responsibility and tighten controls to prevent this type of thing spreading." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: 'We are aware that video footage of an incident that happened out with school grounds involving Whitburn Academy pupils is currently being shared on social media. 'While we have no control over what takes places outside the school, we will speak to the pupils involved in the incident and their parents/carers, and take any appropriate action. 'Whitburn Academy takes all allegations of bullying seriously, with staff working to provide a safe and supportive environment for all pupils. It is not appropriate to comment further on specific incidents.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Tuesday, 29 April, 2025, officers received a report of an assault on West Main Street, Whitburn. Enquiries are at an early stage.'
