Head calls police after pupils leave derogatory graffiti

A HEAD teacher called police after pupils wrote nasty comments about her on the school walls on their last day of term.

Kerry Targett, who took charge of St Andrew’s High School in Croydon, south London, a year ago, was pelted with eggs and water bombs during “muck-up day” celebrations by GCSE pupils.

The pupils proceeded to write derogatory messages about her on walls and tables, including: “F--- Kerry Targett” and “Kerry Targett bang bang bang”.

Mrs Targett defended her decision to contact the police.

She said: “They were getting a little bit silly with what they were doing. They were throwing eggs and water bombs around, yes, but they weren’t necessarily directed at me. I wasn’t hit by any of them.

“We had to call the police just to disperse the numbers so we could clear the streets and get them to go home and study. The police didn’t come in the end. They obviously didn’t see it as important and the students eventually dispersed.”

Police said they received several calls to the area after pupils threw eggs and flour.

A source close to the school said the new head’s management style had left students frustrated and caused teachers to quit.

They said: “They are a nice bunch of students but they became so angry and frustrated with the head that they developed this vendetta against her.”

Mrs Targett said she had seen some of the graffiti and hoped that “the pupils don’t have a personal problem with me”.

She added: “I’m new to the school and I’ve made some changes that were needed. I’ve hopefully improved the learning environment and I’ve been working hard to ensure we have staff in classrooms teaching them what they need to know in their exams.”