A STUDENT was left with a broken tooth after being pushed to the ground and punched while out of school at lunchtime.

The 17-year-old is a year 12 pupil at Canon Slade School, in Bradshaw Brow, and was with a group of friends when the attack took place.

He was walking along Back Tonge Moor Road, near the school, on Monday when the man accused him of looking at his girlfriend before crossing the road, pushing him to the ground, hitting him in the head and breaking one of his teeth.

Police are appealing for anyone with information or who witnessed the assault to come forward.

The assault comes as students sit vital GCSE, AS-level and A-level exams. One shocked parent of a fellow pupil said: “I can’t believe that this has happened.

“My daughter walks nearby that street every day. You don’t expect this sort of thing to happen so near to school.”

The Bolton News has contacted Canon Slade School for a comment.

The school was rated as outstanding by Ofsted when it was last inspected in 2012.

A police spokesman said: “Shortly before 2pm on Monday 15 May, police were called to Back Tonge Moor Road to reports of an assault.

“A 17-year-old boy was walking along the street when a man accused him of looking at his girlfriend before crossing the road, pushing him to the ground, hitting him in the head and breaking one of his teeth.

“Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 1119 of 15/05/17, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”