School stands by decision to send leavers home early

Six police officers patrolled the school campus after headteacher Martyn Ofield called year 11 students into an assembly and told them he had moved forward their leaving day on Wednesday last week.

A number of shocked parents called the Express to complain about the decision, saying the headteacher had overeacted and unfairly treated majority of the students.

This week Martyn Ofield, headteacher at Priory School, was not available for comment and was absent from the school on sick leave but deputy headteacher David Brown said the school had been forced to make a 'regrettable decision'.

Mr Brown said: 'I think we took a sensible course of action in light of the information we had and bearing in mind all we had seen in the run up to that time it was appropriate.

'It was a regrettable decision but it was taken within the context of integrity of the whole school community.'

He said prior to the last day 'four or five' students had been excluded for 'persistent defiance and misbehaviour'.

Mr Brown also confirmed teachers at the school were not told in advance of the decision to send the students home early.

Police said the previous year the last day was been marred by grafitti, drunkeness and the vandalism of a teacher's car.

Mr Brown said angry parents met with Mr Ofield and an assistant headteacher on Friday morning to discuss the controversial decision.

Mr Brown said: 'The meeting lasted well over an hour and both sides were able to put across their points of view.'