Truck driver who worked in the Middle East to pay for his son to go to private school is suing it for £125k after he left with just ONE GCSE

AN angry dad is suing a posh private school after he paid a six-figure sum, only for his son to leave with one GCSE.

Scott Craddock, 57, paid £125,000 for his son David’s education at Abbotsholme School in Rocester, Staffs.

But the retired truck driver – who worked for years in the Middle East to fund the plush education – was furious when the 17-year-old only passed a single GCSE.

David left the school last year having failed seven out of eight subjects.

He passed only science, with a borderline grade of C.

The divorced dad-of-two, who lives in Burntwood, Staffs, said: “I paid £28,000 a year for five years for David to go to Abbotsholme.

“David was disheartened when he got his results.

“He said 'You spent all that money on my education and I walk away with one GCSE'.”

Now Scott has served papers on the independent boarding and day school, claiming it failed to live up to its promises.

He said: “I sent David to Abbotsholme, but in my opinion the school is not value for money in any way, shape or form.

“I was always told my public school was a privilege – but I think he would have done better at a local comp.

“They have not provided what they promised in any shape or form.

“The teachers said he would come away with at least five GCSEs – but he has got one.

“He wasn't the only one to underachieve so the standard of teaching there is way below what one would expect from a public school education.”

The school’s GCSE results from summer 2015 were below the national average.

Just 60 per cent of pupils achieved grades between A* and C – compared to 69 per cent nationally.

And only 8.2 per cent of Abbotsholme students received an A* or an A, which is almost three times lower than the national average of 21.2 per cent.

The boarding school’s figures for 2015 were also worse than its results for the previous year where 27.7 per cent of pupils got an A* or an A and 76.5 per cent got between an A* and a C.

Scott is now demanding the school repay the £125,000 he spent on his son’s education.

He delivered the news to headmaster Steve Fairclough and the chairman of the governors at the school's summer gathering.

And he interrupted the pair’s speeches to ask what they planned to do about the school’s recent failings.

He added: “They boasted about being the best school going but that is absolute poppycock.

“The staff are clearly not capable of getting the best out of the children.

“I feel like I've been ripped off, they just don't do what they say on the tin.

“I paid money for a public school education and I did not get a public school education.

“The cleverest kid in the school only came away with a handful of B's and C's so it’s not the case of my child being thick, because he is not.

“They are obliged to meet certain results and should be held accountable for not providing the standards they should be achieving.

“The money I spent could have paid for a house for him when he turns 18.”

He added: “The only thing he came away from Abbotsholme with differently is that his best friend is the son of a Russian oligarch.”

David is now studying arboriculture and horticulture at Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, Cheshire.

He is also re-sitting his Science and Maths GCSEs.

Mr Fairclough said: “I am unable to comment on any contact or dealings that Abbotsholme School has with Mr Craddock for legal reasons.

“The school has followed our published complaints procedure to the letter and Mr Craddock has had every chance to present his case in the appropriate manner.

“In regard to last year's results, we recognised at the time that our results were not as good as in previous years, and have taken a number of steps this year – and for future years – to reverse this situation.

“In doing so, we are now on course to receive excellent results this year due to the hard work of all the teaching staff.”

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