4:50pm Monday 23rd April 2012
Traditional end-of-year celebrations are set for a clampdown after “shocking” behaviour of former school pupils.
Year 11 school leavers at Priory School in Mountfield Road, Lewes, usually enjoy a final day of fun before completing their GCSE exams.
But things got out of hand when a staff member was injured and smoke bombs were let off at a previous end-of-term blow-out.
Minutes from a Parents’ Forum showed that joint chair of school governors Mark Robertson raised concerns.
The minutes said: “In previous years the celebrations had taken on a more explosive edge, problems with early-morning drinking and dangerous behaviour which had become more than high spirits.”
Fellow governor Suzanne Howells was also said to be worried. The minutes said: “[She] remembered being shocked by the behaviour when she first came to the school and had not come across this before in other schools. Staff were very upset by it.”
The report added that headteacher Tony Smith was also aware of issues.
It said: “[Mr Smith said] in previous years smoke bombs had been set off and resulted in a member of staff being injured, younger students |had been scared and the school had a duty of care to all students in the school.
“He wanted Year 11 students to have a positive last day of school and is meeting with the student School Leadership Group to help with arrangements, although for celebrations to be successful the students themselves need to feel that they own it.
“The school has offered to pay for celebrations but the students do not necessarily want something that is ‘approved’.
“However, this Year 11 student body is a very positive year group and he was optimistic about their last day being memorable for good reasons rather than negative ones. He welcomed the input from parents on this issue and hoped that the dialogue would continue.”
Speaking yesterday, Mr Smith said the issues were before his time.
He said: “It was fine last year.
“This year they are going to have a really fun time. They are going to have a bouncy castle in the field although planning is still ongoing.
“It is pretty different this year.”
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