WHEN Harvey the rabbit started picking on his fellow school mates he was expelled by the head teacher.

Staff refused to let the rabbit bully two other bunnies at Jarvis Brook School in Hadlow Down Road, Crowborough, and reported his behaviour to head teacher Richard Hall.

Harvey was immediately disciplined and forced to leave the school. He is now being cared for by a pupil, where he is living happily in isolation.

The boisterous bunny was part of an animal centre at the school which was home to a goose, six ducks, 24 cockatiels, hens and chickens and lots of fish.

Mr Hall said: "One of the rabbits failed to follow school rules. He kept picking on the smaller rabbits, so someone in the school has given him a good home where he is much happier. He wasn't very good natured when he had to live with others, but is much happier now he has a new loving owner."

The centre is at the heart of school life and is situated in a quad around which the school is built. Children feed and care for the animals as part of their school education.

But due to over-breeding at the centre there has been a problem of overcrowding.

Six cockatiels will also be bidding a fond farewell to the school for new homes and many chickens have been given to a good home where they can now roam free.

Mr Hall said: "The cockatiels bred and there just became too many and there wasn't enough room for all the hens and ducks to live together so some of the hens have also gone to a good home.

"It's important to make a statement to the children on how to look after animals and care for them. Now they have all got the space they need and are also locked up safely at night in a fox-proof pen.

"The animal centre is part of the children's personal and social development programme and teaches them how to care for animals and by moving some of the animals out we are teaching them that pets need space.

"We have a rota of children to clean them out and are currently needing parents to come forward and offer to look after them during weekends and holiday times."

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