Row as death threat pupil returns

The 14-year-old has returned to Glebe school

School staff may take industrial action after being told they must teach a pupil who posted death threats against a teacher on a website.

The head at Gleed Boys' School in Spalding, Lincolnshire, had permanently excluded the 14-year-old boy, but the governors overturned his decision.

The pupil has returned to school and the teacher is back part-time.

Teachers' unions are balloting their members, saying the pupil's behaviour was "unacceptable".

Head teacher Geoff Cowley said: "I made a decision which I felt was correct at the time but the governors made theirs and I respect that.

We are absolutely amazed that the governors turned over what we thought was the entirely appropriate decision of the head Roger Kirk, NASUWT

"I'm obliged to ensure he is reintegrated into the school and that's what I hope to do.

"I understand why staff are upset but in the long run there will be no winners, only losers. The school's reputation will not be enhanced by any strike action."

Roger Kirk, from NASUWT, whose members have voted for industrial action, said: "We take a particularly dim view of what we call cyber-bulling - the use of the internet to attack teachers.

"Given that this is such an extreme case, we are absolutely amazed that the governors turned over what we thought was the entirely appropriate decision of the head to permanently exclude this young man."

The NUT is also balloting its members for action.

County councillor Nick Carter, who chairs the governing body, said: "This is an internal school matter and this is all we want to say at the moment."