Ifield Community College calls in police to remove teen 'obsessed with revising'
A SCHOOL called in police to remove a student who was attempting to revise for an exam.
Jamie Gagliardi had been barred from entering Ifield Community College last Thursday after a dispute over revision sessions.
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REMOVED: Jamie Gagliardi was escorted off his school's premises by police as he tried to revise for an exam Photo by Grant Melton
The 18-year-old defied the ban, protesting that he had nowhere else to study and was desperate to do well in his A levels.
But the school has accused him of being "obsessed" with after-school tuition and added that police help was sought because he was causing a "nuisance".
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The teenager had requested extra revision sessions ahead of a psychology exam, which he sat on Monday, but was told the relevant teacher wasn't available to run them.
Mr Gagliardi claims he was expelled after interrupting the head teacher during a meeting last Wednesday to raise his concerns.
However, the school says he was only banned for one day.
When he entered the school on Thursday to use the library's computers, police were called to remove him.
Mr Gagliardi, from Furnace Green, wasn't charged with anything but was told to call his mum to get her to pick him up.
"I have been punished for wanting to do well," he said.
"I am a hard-working and dedicated student, and this could have such an impact on my future.
"The college has overreacted in what is probably the most important week of my school life.
"I have told teachers many times that I do not have a computer at home so would not be able to work at home."
Marilyn Evans, the school's director of administration, said the teenager was given extra revision sessions during the recent half term.
She added: "He became vociferous and irritated that he couldn't have after-school revision. The teacher has already given up her time to give extra revision in half term and during the school day, when she was meant to have free time.
"On Thursday he was causing a nuisance and a disturbance on the premises. He is obsessed with doing after-school revision."
A police spokeswoman confirmed that officers were called at 8.45am to remove a "disruptive" pupil who was refusing to leave the premises.
Mr Gagliardi played the News a recording on his phone, which he says was made when he interrupted the head teacher's meeting.
People can be heard shouting at him to leave the room.
The student is heard labelling staff as "incompetent" and adding that all he wants "is to be heard".
Given that he is predicted to be an A-grade student, Mr Gagliardi believes the school itself would have benefited from allowing him to study on campus.
He added: "I have been excluded before for one day when I questioned a teacher's ability.
"I was not happy with a grade that I got and even marked the paper myself according to the marking scheme and got a better grade. They have tried to repress my voice."
Mrs Evans said that the teenager was a very bright boy who should do very well in his exams.
She added: "He probably feels that without those extra sessions he won't get the grade he wants, but he will. He is a top student."
Comments
by informedg
Friday, June 22 2012, 7:58AM
“I am a Guthrie from "across the pond" in the USA. I would suggest that the officials involved in this "exercise" read Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is a right tony read, too!
Gregg Kanon
http://tinyurl.com/6wx7tqq”
by tyjen
Thursday, June 21 2012, 7:15AM
“what a waste of bloody police resources!!!!! ...there are students who cant study at home for various reasons and i would have thought the college the better place to revise...my children and grandchildren always went to their colleges library to revise as it was quieter than studying at home..
the college in question should be supporting students not calling the police in and sending him home regardless that the student in question argued a valid point...”
by debdjsim
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 5:45PM
“I feel ICC should make a public apology for being so institutionalised and failing to see this and not acting in a much more appropriate manner. In my day school was easy, if you wanted to stay behind the teachers would have been pleased, the thought of anyone of my teachers phoning the police would have been an outrageous act. If a teacher cannot handle a situation appropriately with one pupil, then what are they doing teaching children, you know a class of thirty? I know of ICC as my daughter spent her final two years at this school. I found the teachers incredibly friendly and professional, whilst we were there. However, ringing certain teachers and waiting for a reply and it was a different story, suddenly I was a hinderance. This young man could have been dealt with the next day by the head teacher. Shame on that member of staff who actually rang the police on a child. I think ICC teachers should ask if they are there for the interest of the child, the youth or is it just a job? Should they encourage and guide pupils or dictate and ignore? Shame on you ICC and fancy calling the police, how unnecessary and hope this member of staff realises this.”
by Chezalien
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 4:48PM
“The college should be aware of any issues at home, and they should put him and his parents in touch with some charities and organisations that can help out with education costs, such as EMA (Education maintanance allowance) which has now closed, and given way to the 16-19 bursary, which helps less well off students and which may help him purchase a computer and set up a broadband connection, which you can get now for as little as £15 a month. Also there are various grant schemes that could help him with the cost of buying a computer and setting up a basic 10mb broadband connection. I thought it was this government's idea to get fiber optic broadband into everyone's home in the next 10 years or so and make it more affordable!? It doesn't sound like this school really gives much of a toss about it's pupils so long as the funding keeps coming in.”
by tasharuby
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 2:46PM
“lol”
by tasharuby
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 2:46PM
“lol”
by 08aa42
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:41PM
“in all fairness this is quite a biased peace. no one knows what jamie did to deserve being excluded or how he treated the teachers in question.
I'm an ex student and believe that ICC do fail on communication levels. Dr Lind believes he is above all students and refuses to speak to them for the most part.
I was predicted all A's until i hit a rough patch in my life- i couldn't focus at school and instead of helping me they isolated me from my friends and kept me secluded.
they then told me:
"not to even bother turning up for my exams as i was going to fail anyway"
dont get me wrong there are some amazing teachers there, ready to help you no matter what, but trust me its not the majority.”
by zachgolden
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:01PM
“I think this is dusting, I used to go to this school now they have strict rules and yes Dr. W Lind has been annoying for some time now. he accused me for breaking into the lift control panel and would not let me leave inclusion until i admitted to it when i did not even do it. He also doesn't want to talk to people every time I address him he would tell me to go away and talk to someone else. Now if a student wants to use the school computers this student should be allowed. At Central Sussex College I can come in on my days off and finish work if i wanted 2 because we carry id's. I believe a full investigation is in order on this school because there's allot of unfairness. Once i was going to lunch and the fire alarm went off and it took a long time for them to know it was a false alarm so when the bell went they forced me to go back to lesson without me having my lunch.”