Nantes teacher assaulted by 12-year-old student

A teacher at La Durantière middle school in Nantes was sexually assaulted by a 12-year-old student on June 22. According to reports, the student approached the teacher's desk and physically assaulted her, resulting in a medical prescription for ten days of total incapacity for work.

Because the suspect is under 13, he was held under a specific legal regime for minors rather than being placed in police custody. Nantes Public Prosecutor Antoine Leroy stated that a child psychiatric expertise is required to determine if the student possessed the necessary discernment to be held criminally responsible for his actions.

The incident has intensified long-standing tensions at the school. Staff members have been campaigning since 2019 for the institution to be classified as a reinforced priority education network. In response to the incident and a perceived lack of resources, school personnel have filed a strike notice for September 8 to demand increased human and material support.