A teenager who was arrested after allegedly bringing a blade to his high school has received a police caution.
The incident, at Long Stratton High School, on November 6, led to a row between staff and governors, after the latter overruled the headteacher's decision to permanently exclude the boy.
Staff, supported by the NUT, NASUWT, ATL and Unison unions, sent a formal letter to governors, which said: 'The decision to overrule this particular type of weapon-related permanent exclusion clouds the message and ethos of the school of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff.'
Deborah Sacks, chairman of governors, had said a working party with senior teachers would be set up to see if changes needed to be made, and to review its complaints and behaviour policies.
Police have now confirmed the pupil, who had been arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a 'bladed article', was issued with a youth conditional caution late last month.
The caution means the boy, who has not been named, admitted his offence, and criminal proceedings have been halted while he is given the chance to comply with certain conditions.
The school declined to say whether the dispute between staff and governors had been resolved, whether the working party had finished its work, and whether the school had a zero-tolerance stance towards pupils bringing blades into school.
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