A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD girl has been arrested after chemicals were splashed into a classmate’s face during a science lesson, The Northern Echo has learned.

The young pupil was arrested after an argument at school apparently resulted in a hazardous mix of iodine, chlorine and bromine being splashed into a boy’s face.

Ambulance crews and police rushed to Darlington’s Longfield Academy on Tuesday, January 23 after the Year Nine pupils argued during a chemistry experiment.

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Teachers leapt into action immediately, using water on the boy’s face before summoning first aiders who administered treatment until an ambulance crew arrived and took him to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Officers from Durham Constabulary arrested the girl on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after responding to a call from the ambulance service.

Longfield Academy’s head, Nick Lindsay, said the teenager was also facing school disciplinary procedures and he praised his staff for responding swiftly to the shocking incident.

Mr Lindsay stressed that the science lesson had been subject to a full risk assessment and that all procedures had been correctly followed.

He said that the boy was splashed in the face with a “non-corrosive, standard solution of iodine, bromine and chlorine used in Key Stage 4 science experiments nationwide” but had suffered no lasting harm as a result of the attack.

The child is understood to have returned to the school the next day, having been released from hospital shortly after the incident.

Parents have since been reassured about school safety procedures and the boy’s mother has penned a note to staff thanking them for their swift actions.

Mr Lindsay said: “This was clearly an unfortunate and worrying incident but we wish to make it absolutely clear that appropriate procedures and guidelines were followed every step of the way.

“The solution being used in the science experiment was diluted to a standard level recommended for schools across the country, and there is no lasting harm to the pupil concerned.

“Staff reacted quickly and appropriately and we have received an email from the boy’s mother, thanking us for what she described as the ‘professional, thorough and caring’ way it was dealt with.”

A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary confirmed that officers had attended the school following reports of a student having had “low concentrate chemicals used in the classroom” splashed in his face.

She said: “A 14-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of ABH and has been released under investigation.”

A spokesman for Victim Support said that the boy could be at risk of being psychologically damaged by the attack.

Alex Mayes said: “Chemical attacks can have a devastating and often long-term impact on victims, not only physically but also psychologically.”