Head denies boy racially abused

A former head teacher has denied that a six-year-old Muslim boy had been subjected to racism when he was a pupil at her school.

The boy's parents are suing Diane Symes and the trust which ran St Christopher's school in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset.

They have told Swindon Crown Court he was regularly physically and verbally abused at the school.

Mrs Symes said the parents made "unreasonable" complaints.

Every single thought, deed and action somehow managed to be nailed to the mast of discrimination Diane Symes Former head teacher

Aliya Smethurst, 36, and her husband Patrick, 39, are claiming damages for racial discrimination, victimisation, harassment and battery.

The court heard the boy was called "mud face" and often punched and kicked in his time at the school.

It was claimed he was once deliberately pushed over by a teacher, Julie Oldroyd. She maintained it was an accident.

Mrs Smethurst, who is originally from Pakistan, said her son came home with bruises almost daily.

She said he was also cast as a black cloud in a school play when all his classmates were white clouds.

'Serial complainers'

In evidence, Mrs Symes said the Smethursts "became unreasonable" during the time in question and had "inundated" her with complaints.

"Over the course of a year I think every single thought, deed and action somehow managed to be nailed to the mast of discrimination," she told the court.

"Whatever we did was wrong. I do not know what would have pleased them because we never achieved that."

Paul Gilroy, for Mrs Symes and the school trust, labelled the Smethursts as "serial complainers" and said to Mr Smethurst during his evidence: "You and your wife see this as a ready means to obtain cash."

Mr Smethurst said he and his wife had brought the suit so that the boy would "see that his parents had fought for him".

The school closed last August due to falling enrolments.

The hearing will conclude at a date to be fixed.