EXCLUSIVE By ADAM LAZZARI STUDENTS in March staged a strike this morning with about 20 disappearing from the Neale-Wade Community College after the protest over the length of lunch breaks. Staff are currently contacting parents in a bid to find where th

EXCLUSIVE

By ADAM LAZZARI

STUDENTS in March staged a strike this morning with about 20 disappearing from the Neale-Wade Community College after the protest over the length of lunch breaks.

Staff are currently contacting parents in a bid to find where the students have gone.

Principal Tim Hitch said: "Our main concern is for the students' safety.

"The majority of the students returned to lessons and only a minor disruption was caused.

"I want to assure parents that lessons are now continuing as normal."

Around 50 students, who currently have a 40 minute lunch break, were involved in the protest.

It is unclear exactly what the students are demanding.

The protestors refused to go to their second lesson and gathered in the grounds at 10am for around 20 minutes.

Teachers and staff were met with television cameras from Anglia TV as they attempted to get students back into the college.

Mr Hitch said: "I believe that a couple of students organised this, possibly with the help of parents, because television cameras don't just appear from nowhere.

"The students involved will be disciplined through normal school procedures."

Mr Hitch could not say if any students were likely to be excluded.

Students in Years 7 to 10 had to stay at home yesterday (Thursday) when members of the National Union of Teachers joined a national strike over pay and classroom sizes.

Were you involved in the protest?

Send us your stories and pictures to adam.lazzari@archant.co.uk