School action after blazer fire

The pupils were objecting to being made to wear a blazer

Twelve pupils at a south Wales school have been given temporary exclusions after setting fire to a blazer during a protest about uniforms.

Firefighters and the police were called to Abertillery Comprehensive School in Blaenau Gwent on Tuesday.

Head teacher Pauline Thomas said "a small group" of pupils were involved in the demonstration.

She said making wearing blazers compulsory had been the idea of the school council which is led by pupils.

"Three years ago, the school council asked us if they could have blazers in the school uniform," she said.

"The governors agreed and we have been phasing it in gradually.

"But this year is the first year it is compulsory and as the weather has started to get colder we thought it was time the pupils actually had them on."

The demonstration was filmed on a pupil's mobile phone

But a small group of pupils aged 14 and 15 objected to the new uniform and held a protest on Tuesday morning.

"They went out of a lesson to show their protest then came in after lunch," Mrs Thomas explained.

"But a small group went back out and burnt a blazer in the bus bay."

Mrs Thomas said she would be sending letters to parents of children involved in the protests.

And said 12 of those pupils involved were to be given a day-long exclusion from the school.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said officers were called to the school at about 1300 BST but that the incident was over by the time they arrived.

A South Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said firefighters did attend but were not needed at the scene.