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Pupils on strike
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Exam pupils strike
21/ 5/2008
STRESSED-OUT pupils staged a strike at their school in protest at exam pressures.
Youngsters at Two Trees School in Denton erected placards outside the school and at one stage refused to move after organising a sit-down protest on school playing fields.
They claim they had been denied time off to revise for their GCSEs despite promises.
A group of year 11 students led a mini mutiny and refused to go to lessons — in a move backed by parents.
More than 40 took part in the ‘strike’ on Thursday.
Callan Fletcher, 16, of Yew Tree estate, Denton said: "At the beginning of the year staff told us we would have study leave before the exams. Everyone else has had it previously.
"Now we’ve been told our timetable will continue as normal right through the exams. It’s ridiculous.
"So I may have an English exam in the afternoon, but a maths lesson right before it."
Rachel Moores, 15, of Ashton, added: "There’s too many distractions from disruptive pupils in class. We should have the choice."
Callan added: "We handed a petition in containing 200 names and asked for a meeting with the headteacher in person, but our requests were ignored. It left us with no option."
A handful of parents joined the protestors to show support.
Elaine Healey, 36, of Audenshaw, said: "I’m with the kids on this. These are important exams and they should have the choice.
"They’ve not been aggressive or violent and have protested peacefully the right way."
Nick Condliffe, headteacher, denied pupils had been given study leave last year, insisting the practice had stopped.
He said: "A directive from the local authority and the government says study leave should be avoided at all costs. Our arrangements for Year 11 pupils follow those guidelines as are most other schools in Tameside. In fact we have not given study leave here for four years.
"Research shows if they stay in school and study a normal timetable they do better in their GCSEs.
"We have 160 children in Year 11 and the vast majority are taking lessons as normal.
"However, a handful wanted to protest outside. We will be contacting parents before deciding what to do next."
- For a Channel M video clip on this story visit tamesideadvertiser.co.uk
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
22/05/2008 at 10:06
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They would have plenty of time to do their revision then !!!!
Giving Pupils study days at home rarely results in then actually studying, it usually results in trips to the shops !!!!
24/05/2008 at 01:17