Head’s solution to oversubscribed school: break new rules and you’ll be expelled

THE headmaster of a public school has admitted he is actively seeking to expel pupils because it is oversubscribed.

Toby Belfield, head of Ruthin School in Denbighshire, Wales, said he had a surplus of about 25 students, and that he was exploring tougher policies to exclude those caught breaching school rules.

The plans, obtained via leaked emails, reveal that new rules will ban students from going to the park or restaurants and ordering takeaways, and smoking and drinking will be severely punished. Students breaching new protocols, Mr Belfield warns, “will not return in September 2017”.

Mr Belfield also claimed that many students were taking days off sick when they were just “tired”.

He added that girls were wearing their skirts too short, and that several sixth-form students dressed as though they were “going to a nightclub”.

“I am going to examine academic progress. Everyone must do their best – lack of effort is a reason to leave Ruthin School,” Mr Belfield told staff in an email.

“If any student signs out and goes somewhere else, they will not be allowed to return to Ruthin School.

“Staff, if you know any student that is a smoker (or, for example, drinks alcohol in Ruthin) – let me know, so I can add them to the list of leavers, and let their parents know asap.”

When approached for comment, Mr Belfield said: “The school is oversubscribed , and I did send the emails.

“It is no surprise that so many students wish to come to Ruthin School as a result of our continued academic success. I think it is entirely reasonable for any school to set their standards, and expect students to adhere to them.”