News / schools
Protests at Bristol secondary school
Graffiti was allegedly sprayed on walls, toilets smashed and bins tipped over as around 200 students protested following the resignation of a popular teacher.
The teacher was allegedly forced out of the school after saying that she had experienced racial harassment. She was one of the few Black teachers at the school.
The whole of Redland Green School was eventually evacuated when the fire alarm sounded.
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One member of staff, who did not want to be named, said: “Approximately 200 students, fed up with a lack of action over racism, staged a walk out at 11am, and refused to go back to class as a form of protest.
“The protest turned into a riot, with senior management chasing students throughout the school throughout the day.
“There was a lot of noise and chaos. Bins were tipped over, toilets smashed up, graffiti sprayed over walls.
“Some members of staff had to barricade themselves into their offices while students tried to smash down the door.”
Redland Green School was founded in 2006 – photo: Martin Booth
In a letter sent to parents on Monday from headteacher, Ben Houghton, and co-chair of governors, Rhiannon Ormsby, they explained that “a number of students across year groups left lessons to protest”.
“Some students have chosen to make their voices heard on the issues of EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) and racism by way of protesting during the school day, raising issues that concern them.
“Students have since been instructed to return to their lessons and the day has continued as normal.
“Our priority at this point is to the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff on site and to ensure that the rest of the term can proceed calmly and in the normal way.
“I would also like to reassure you that RGS is a school where discrimination of any form is totally unacceptable, is never tolerated and will always be acted upon when reported.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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