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Boys in happy slap ban

Tom Rowley
5/ 7/2007

PARENTS are furious after their children were excluded from primary school for having pictures of a 'happy slapping' incident on their mobile phones.

They fear their sons - who attend Godley Primary in Hyde - will now have a bad record on school reports throughout their school career.

The video shows an Asian child being knocked to the floor by an Asian adult, while another Asian man films the scene at a family function.

It seems the images were being sent around school and a mother of one pupil objected to the head teacher of the St John's Drive school.

Sharon Pearce, of Mottram Road, Godley - mother of 10-year-old Charlie - said: "Children get these things sent by their mates all the time. Charlie received his outside of school hours and not on school grounds.

"The head teacher saw this and excluded him from 12noon on Friday to the following Wednesday.

"It's all very silly. But I'm afraid it will be on his file that he is a racist and that will carry though to when he is at Longdendale High School, where his sister Chantelle goes to."

Charlie's pal Gavin Thurston, 11, was also barred for the same period after both received letters.

His father Barry Hall, of St Paul's Hill Road, Godley, was annoyed at the actions of the school.

"When I got a message at work that Gavin had been excluded I thought it might be because he had thrown somebody about in a fight. When I found out the reason I couldn't believe it."

Police have spoken to the parents, although they were given to understand the matter will not be taken further.

Mr Hall was due to meet the headteacher yesterday (Wednesday) to discuss the matter further.

Headteacher Lynda Johnson said: "Although we cannot comment on individual cases, it is the school's duty under the Every Child Matters agenda to support community cohesion and consider the welfare and health and safety of all our pupils at all times.

"That includes protecting them from exposure to images which we consider to be inappropriate for children of such a young age."