Head teacher bans striking pupils

A head teacher, who banned more than 100 pupils from a Basingstoke school after they went on strike, told their parents by sending a text message.

Some 117 pupils at Brighton Hill Community College failed to attend lessons in protest over a plan to extend the school day by 20 minutes.

Head teacher David Eyre reportedly told the pupils involved they would be suspended for the rest of the term.

One parent said "children do have opinions". Mr Eyre did not comment.

Under the new system - expected to get under way in September - the school day will end at 1505 instead of 1445.

Pupils, who currently take 30-minute lunch breaks in two separate groups, will eat lunch together in one period lasting about 50 minutes.

Paul Mason, whose daughter attends the school in Brighton Way, Brighton Hill, said: "She said the queues are bad enough as it is even with a split lunch-break.

"They would be even worse under the changes.

"She phoned me when she went on strike and I said: 'If it is something you believe in as long as no-one has coerced you into it and it is peaceful then stick by your guns'.

"Children do have opinions. I brought all my children up to have their own opinions and use them.

"It is a democratic society we are meant to live in and they wanted to voice an opinion."

Parents were initially notified of the disciplinary action taken with a text message but a confirmation letter was also due to be sent to them.

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