An investigation has been ordered at a Wirral school after a boy toppled over a handrail on a flight of stairs.
The year seven pupil fell about twenty feet from the first floor level at Pensby High School for Boys.
Paramedics took the youngster, aged 11 or 12, to Arrowe Park Hospital for emergency treatment.
He was later transferred to Alder Hey children's Hospital in Liverpool, where his condition is said to be critical. His parents were keeping a vigil at his bedside.
Pupils at the specialist sports college said they had been warned at morning assembly to say nothing to anyone outside the school about the incident.
One parent at the school said: "It seems like it is a terrible accident and all the children have been very upset by what has happened.
"The design of the building dates back the the 1950s and some of the common areas are not very up-to-date.
"There are open stairwells that would not be created in a modern building since there can be dozens of children milling around on these staircases.
"I hope there is going to be a full investigation by safety inspectors."
A spokesman for Merseyside Regional Ambulance Service said: "We attended an incident at the school after receiving a call at 1.17pm yesterday.
"Our rapid response unit attended and an ambulance was on the scene at 1.24pm."
The school declined to comment.
A spokesman for Wirral Borough Council said: "A pupil has fallen from the first floor level down a stairwell.
"We are conducting an internal investigation into the circumstances."
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "Officers have attended the scene to gather information.
"It is a matter of routine and there is no suggestion of anything else at this stage."
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