School suspends 13 pupils

Thirteen pupils have been suspended from a primary school in the space of 24 hours.

The suspensions came after children at Wharrier Street Primary School, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, refused to obey teachers, walked out of classrooms and fought with each other.

The school was already at the centre of a row over the expulsion of an 11-year-old girl for allegedly punching the deputy head during a playground incident.

The youngsters - aged between nine and eleven - were expelled on Tuesday and Wednesday after a supply teacher complained she could not cope with their antics.

I am confident this will blow over quickly

Headteacher Bernadette Doherty

Headteacher Bernadette Doherty said the youngsters have refused to behave despite warning letters being sent to their parents earlier this month.

The children, twelve from Year 4 and one Year 5 pupil, have been barred until Monday.

Mrs Doherty, 44, said the letters were sent to the parents of 15 pupils earlier this month warning that the behaviour of the children was unacceptable.

She said: "The children from Year 4 have been excluded for three days as a result of disruptive behaviour in the school which will not be tolerated.

Playground incident

"The behaviour of the vast majority of pupils is very good but unfortunately a small minority have proved particularly difficult over the last few weeks.

"But I am confident this will blow over quickly."

Eleven-year-old Jade Blackburn was expelled permanently from the school last week after an alleged incident in the playground.

Deputy head Clare Marriott was left with facial bruising after being struck.

Jade's mother, Debra, 38, is determined to appeal against the ruling claiming her daughter was being bullied by seven boys and the teacher was struck accidentally when she stepped in.

'Out of control'

Mrs Blackburn said she was not surprised at the latest suspensions.

She said: "The teachers do not know how to control the kids.

"It's the way teachers speak to children and try to handle them that causes problems.

"They are aggressive and I think the staff need to have a good look at themselves rather than say the children are out of control.

"We had contacted the school numerous times about Jade being bullied but they didn't do anything about it."

Newcastle City Council's education director, Phil Turner said: "I have no qualms about the way the school is being run and the headteacher has my total support."