School row over charity bracelets

A head teacher has spoken out about why he banned charity wristbands, which later caused some pupils to walk out.

David Hill, head of Sir Graham Balfour School in Stafford, banned the bands because he said pupils were caught selling them and keeping the cash.

He also said it was for uniform reasons. A small group of students staged a protest and walked out.

Mr Hill said the school would now be selling bands and badges to make sure the money went to the right causes.

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Once the original wristband ban was announced, a group of students went into the playground to protest, Mr Hill said. The ban was then taken back and students are allowed to wear their bands again.

"Unfortunately, a small group of students latched onto this protest and used it as an excuse for misbehaviour," Mr Hill said. "These students were not truly interested in the charity issue."

Punishment

He said he had to call the police after the students left the school grounds. The police then returned some of these students to the school.

The head said the students who walked out of school would receive "severe punishments" and he would not allow pupils to use a protest as an excuse for very bad behaviour.