An Edenham High pupil who stabbed his classmate in the head with a pair of scissors is unlikely to return to school, according to the headteacher.

Ms Jacey Downes has told the Croydon Guardian this morning that she will do everything in her power to make sure he is not accepted back by the school.

The victim, a year 10 pupil, was stabbed in the left side of the head at around 1.50pm yesterday as he was coming out of a classroom during lesson change.

He was airlifted to hospital by helicopter and the other boy was taken to a Croydon Police Station and is still being held by police.

The victim is understood to be off the critical list this morning and sitting up and talking in his hospital bed.

Ms Downes added: "This was an isolated incident and has therefore been a shock for pupils and staff throughout the school. We are assisting the police with their investigation and providing support to the pupils where required.

"Our thoughts are with the boy and his family and we wish him a full and speedy recovery."

Parents have been informed of the incident and pupils are being offered support from the school and the local authority.

An Ofsted report published on January 14 gave the school notice to improve and an inspection team noted pupil's were not learning as well as they could.

But in a letter to pupils Her Majesty's Inspector, Anne Duffy, said student's behaviour was satisfactory and improving.

A police spokesman confirmed a boy aged 14 or 15 had been arrested in connection with the incident and was in custody at a south London police station.