The boy had reportedly been given a letter to take home to his mother explaining why he had been excluded.

Attempts were also made to contact her on the phone, but the calls were ended, London's Evening Standard reported.

In the end, the headteacher "decided to text her a message... confirming the decision to exclude her son".

Local education officials said: "The text message was the only other option left to confirm the decision."

Appeal

The boy's mother said: "I was shocked that the school would send me a text message about something like that."