Student back in school after shooting teacher

WELSH union chiefs yesterday called for a change in legislation after a school was forced to take back a pupil it expelled for shooting a teacher.

The 11-year-old is back at Llantwit Major Comprehensive School in south Wales after shooting his sociology master in the neck with a toy ball bearing gun.

School head Dr Michael Norton permanently expelled the pupil after the incident and was quickly backed up by his board of governors.

But the boy’s parents appealed to an independent panel which overturned the school’s decision and forced it to take him back.

Gethin Lewis, Secretary of the National Union of Teachers in Wales, said all independent panels should be abolished.

He said that incidents with replica weapons were becoming more common and were the cause of extra stress and fear within schools. The final decision in cases like this should rest with the school headmaster and the governors,” he said.

“This incident involving the replica gun happened before Christmas.

“Our view is that any pupil found with a knife or a gun, whether replica or real, should be expelled.

“Unfortunately under the present legislation there is an appeal stage beyond that of the governors and that is the independent panel.

“The parents of this boy appealed to an independent panel and the school’s decision was overturned.

“Sadly, once the decision of the independent panel has been taken there is nothing in law that we can do. But we would strengthen the hand of the head teachers and the governors who should have the power to make the final decision. They are the ones who are closest to the school and the community and they have the best interests of everyone at heart.