‘All he would do was sit on a bench in the playground and just stare’
officials when he arrived in the UK from Germany without paperwork.
He joined Stoke High School in Ipswich in September and has been attending classes since then.
Fellow pupils claim he speaks very little English and struggles to communicate with teachers. One pupil posted a picture of the boy in uniform on Snapchat saying: “How’s there a 30-year-old man in our maths class?”
The boy is said to have spent most of his lunch and break times with a year 7 pupil. He once described the younger boy as his “brother” and there are rumours they are related.
Our source said: “He never played football at break-time, all he would do was sit on a bench and stare. I only ever saw him hang around with a younger boy. They look very alike.”
There was also speculation that the older “pupil” is the father of the child.
He added: “I have never seen him hanging around with anyone else, they are always together at lunch. But I have also seen him point at the younger boy and say ‘my brother, my brother’.”
It is said parents complained to the school two weeks ago that their children were studying with a man.
As a result of the concerns raised the 680-pupil school, run by the Ormiston Academies Trust, called in Home Office Snapchat photo of the ‘adult-looking’ pupil, right, at Stoke High School in Ipswich investigators. But some parents have defended the boy and his right to an education. One mother said: “I don’t have an issue with it until I see some actual real proof other than hearsay and rumours.”
The pupil is said to have taken down his Facebook page which allegedly showed a picture of him with a beard.
Home Office sources said the investigation is being treated “seriously” but a spokesman said they cannot comment on individual cases. It is believed the pupil is still registered at the school, but has stayed away in recent days.
A statement issued by the Ormiston Academies Trust said: “This is a matter for the Home Office and we have referred it to them. The student is not attending school at this time.
“We cannot comment further on an individual case but we have followed Government and local authority policies and guidance, as we do for any admissions matter.”