EDITOR'S CHOICE NEWS Five months of roadwork misery for Wimbledon Police attack linked to notorious gang Robbers target Woolworths store AFC WIMBLEDON Wimbledon wildcard is Evans sent CRYSTAL PALACE NEWS Goldberg demands respect for Jordan COMPETITIONS Win tickets to BBC Proms in the Park Win with Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging ON THIS DAY On This Day... BIZARRE LONDON HOUNSLOW: Bin man boogie is internet hit BUCKS: Sticky encounter for crocked croaker VOTE Who's been Palace's best chairman? Ron Noades Mark Goldberg Simon Jordan GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Bees form forces Scott re-think 2 Robbers target Woolworths store 3 Police attack linked to notorious gang 4 Five months of roadwork misery for Wimbledon 5 Johnson lays down law to England U18s 6 Croydon MP back from battling depression 7 Kingston man charged with assaulting Richmond cop 8 Braithwaite signing softens Quarm's Beavers blow 9 Spurs' Mills walks tightrope at bouyant Bees 10 Robins on a roll Today | 7 Days 1 Police attacked in rubbish row 2 Police say Croydon getting safer despite 'litter attack' 3 Adult service ads banned 4 Officer attacked by mob says he feared for his life 5 Drug dealers caged for 27 years 6 85 OAP villagers to be evicted 7 Katie Price fans turn out in Croydon 8 Man jailed for killing dad-to-be 9 Police attack linked to notorious gang 10 Men fined for stealing over £1,000 from parking meters

The smoke bomb set off on the school's rugby pitch

Pupils at a Wimbledon independent school have attacked its "militant" response to an annual day of mischief which led to the school being put on "lockdown" and pupils reportedly facing expulsion.

On Tuesday, boys at King's College School took part in "muck up day", an event in which sixth formers finishing their time at the school play pranks and tricks.

Around 50 of them donned boiler suits to take part in activities including pelting each other with eggs and water bombs on the school fields, rearranging furniture in the buildings and blocking staircases with hundreds of cups of water. One pupil set off a homemade smoke bomb on the playing field.

However, the boys quickly found themselves the target of the school's new security measures, which were reportedly introduced after a break-in last month in which pupil's mobile phones were stolen.

They said a new alarm system was used to automatically shut gates and doors to all empty rooms, leaving the school in Southside "locked down" by 9.15am.

A group of boys tried to escape over fences and hedges but many were detained by the school's new security guards and porters. The pupils claim that those caught were threatened with expulsion and removal from this summer's A-level exams.

A number of students filmed the pranks but said their cameras and mobile phones were confiscated by staff and the footage deleted.

One sixth form pupil, who asked to remain anonymous, described the school's approach as "militant" and said: "They have gone overboard in their response. We were mild compared with other years."

It is understood that the boy who released the smoke bomb, which scorched part of the school rugby pitch, is facing expulsion - although he will still be allowed to sit his exams.

Another boy involved, who also requested not to be named, said that most of the school staff enjoyed the pranks. He said: "The day was immensely funny - a lot of the teachers took it in the right spirit. It was a bit strange to have the new security system used on the pupils though."

Despite numerous attempts to contact the headteacher, the school refused to comment on the story.

12:54pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

Print

Email this