A retired headteacher is advocating "politically incorrect" punishments for school bullies.

Following the suicide of 11-year-old Ben Vodden, Dr Stuart Newton, left, said schools and the wider community were failing to deal with the children responsible for terrorising their peers.

Ben, of Andrews Lane, Southwater, hanged himself in his bedroom after allegedly suffering weeks of hell at the hands of bullies at Tanbridge House School, Horsham.

A report by school inspectors Ofsted as far back as March 2003 said it was widely acknowledged there was bullying at the school. It said pupils could be rude and aggressive and were regularly expelled.

Dr Newton believes harsher discipline and a bigger sense of responsibility among adults in and out of school were needed to stamp out bullying.

He ran schools in Croydon and Lewisham before taking up his present post as a biology teacher at Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College.

He said: "I have spent nearly 40 years teaching young people in secondary schools.

"I have had extensive experience in dealing with bullies and the aftermath for their victims.

"I introduced some pretty rigorous sanctions to deter bullies from their unpleasant practices like, for instance, standing them up in assembly and describing their actions to the rest of the pupils.

"Harsh? Yes. Effective? Yes. Politically incorrect? Very definitely."

He said headteachers who attempt to deal firmly with bullies find themselves under fire for victimising the children.

Dr Newton, who lives in Peacehaven, said: "I can tell you that the bullies have no intention of stopping. Their response to the hype and outrage will be a two-finger sign.

"The victims know that as well, which is why many fear another term that will have to be endured by the day rather than enjoyed."

He advocated mentoring schemes where older pupils keep an eye on new ones and action from adults who spot bullying in the community.

He said: "As long as adults choose to believe that bullying is a school thing, then we can cop out of our responsibilities by saying that teachers are paid to sort it out. As a result, the problem is never seriously tackled, far less sorted."

Crawley Luxury Coaches, which is understood to have taken Ben to and from school, is helping police investigating his death.

Ben's funeral was held yesterday afternoon at the United Reformed Church in Springfield Road, Horsham.

Should schools use non-PC methods to stamp out bullying? Do you think bullies should receive harsher punishments?

Are bullies just as vulnerable as their victims?

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