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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pupils excluded following walkout | Pupils excluded following walkout |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Eleven children have been excluded from a school after they walked out because they said there were too many supply teachers. | |
| There have been protests at Berryhill Sports College and High School in Stoke-on-Trent on Monday and Tuesday, with dozens said to be involved. | There have been protests at Berryhill Sports College and High School in Stoke-on-Trent on Monday and Tuesday, with dozens said to be involved. |
| Governors' chairman Terry Crowe said the 11 pupils, who are aged about 15, were told to stay away for two weeks. | |
| "Parents who have taken part with the children are irresponsible," he said. | "Parents who have taken part with the children are irresponsible," he said. |
| I won't be bullied by children or parents Terry Crowe, chair of governors | I won't be bullied by children or parents Terry Crowe, chair of governors |
| Police were called during a protest on Monday, a spokesman for the school in Bucknall said. | Police were called during a protest on Monday, a spokesman for the school in Bucknall said. |
| One of those to have been excluded, Nikita Bailey, told the BBC that about 60 pupils were involved in Monday's demonstration. | One of those to have been excluded, Nikita Bailey, told the BBC that about 60 pupils were involved in Monday's demonstration. |
| She said: "All the students are just getting to the point where they don't want supply teachers any more. | She said: "All the students are just getting to the point where they don't want supply teachers any more. |
| "They just want a proper education with proper teachers and everyone's just getting sick of it, so we just walked out to get heard really. | "They just want a proper education with proper teachers and everyone's just getting sick of it, so we just walked out to get heard really. |
| "The teachers and the head teacher won't listen to us and we thought we would get heard if we walked out." | "The teachers and the head teacher won't listen to us and we thought we would get heard if we walked out." |
| Main protagonists | Main protagonists |
| One parent who was outside the school on Tuesday, Mandy Moore, said: "I believe the children have a right (to protest). Nobody seems to be listening." | One parent who was outside the school on Tuesday, Mandy Moore, said: "I believe the children have a right (to protest). Nobody seems to be listening." |
| Another parent, Elsa Haldane, said: "I'm with them (the children) 100%. At least they can see the children want to learn." | Another parent, Elsa Haldane, said: "I'm with them (the children) 100%. At least they can see the children want to learn." |
| The school said those who have been excluded were the main protagonists and some issues had been resolved. | The school said those who have been excluded were the main protagonists and some issues had been resolved. |
| Mr Crowe said staff had said there had been complaints over school uniforms and body piercing. | Mr Crowe said staff had said there had been complaints over school uniforms and body piercing. |
| The school said it could not give specific reasons why pupils had been excluded but it was not aware of an issue to do with uniforms. | The school said it could not give specific reasons why pupils had been excluded but it was not aware of an issue to do with uniforms. |
| 'Very frustrated' | 'Very frustrated' |
| Mr Crowe said: "I've been the chairman of governors for 20 years and I won't be bullied by children or parents to do things I don't think are compatible with what the school is about. | Mr Crowe said: "I've been the chairman of governors for 20 years and I won't be bullied by children or parents to do things I don't think are compatible with what the school is about. |
| "Staff have got a hard enough job these days without parents egging them on. It's not good for school discipline." | "Staff have got a hard enough job these days without parents egging them on. It's not good for school discipline." |
| The vast majority of students enjoyed a normal school day Mark Ranford, deputy head | The vast majority of students enjoyed a normal school day Mark Ranford, deputy head |
| The school said it was available to listen to the views of parents and students. Deputy head Mark Ranford said on Monday: "A small number of pupils engaged in an unacceptable demonstration against essential school rules at the school gate. | The school said it was available to listen to the views of parents and students. Deputy head Mark Ranford said on Monday: "A small number of pupils engaged in an unacceptable demonstration against essential school rules at the school gate. |
| "Four representative pupils were invited into the school and discussed with senior staff ways of resolving their issues. | "Four representative pupils were invited into the school and discussed with senior staff ways of resolving their issues. |
| "Several students then returned to lessons as normal. The vast majority of students enjoyed a normal school day and lunchtime." | "Several students then returned to lessons as normal. The vast majority of students enjoyed a normal school day and lunchtime." |
| The school said a meeting had been arranged with the chair of governors later this week to allow further dialogue between students, parents and senior staff. | The school said a meeting had been arranged with the chair of governors later this week to allow further dialogue between students, parents and senior staff. |
| The city council said it was concerned about the situation but the issue of school discipline was a matter for the head teacher and the governors. | The city council said it was concerned about the situation but the issue of school discipline was a matter for the head teacher and the governors. |