I’m disgusted at my son’s school for sending kids home if they’re five minutes late – they’re ruining his education

A DAD has slammed his son's school after he says teachers started sending kids home for being just five minutes late.

Mark Hill says he's "disgusted" by the Norfolk school's strict rule change - claiming it's ruining his son's chance at a good education.

The dad sends his boy to Dereham's Neatherd High School and says tardy students are being sent home if they are five or more minutes late to class.

But the school's headteacher says Mark is in the minority as most parents support the rule - as does he.

The dad claims his son has already been thrown out of school and sent home before lunchtime three times since the rules came in earlier this month.

He told : “I am disgusted with it, I understand he needs to be on time for lessons, but I feel that all they are doing is putting children further and further behind in their education.

“I am fine with detentions, or not sending them into the class and working in the library but ready to go to the next one.

“I believe there is a better path to go down rather than just sending them home.”

But school headteacher Jaime Mallett said students who were showing up late had the opportunity to explain their tardiness before they were sent home.

He said the youngsters were warned they needed to start arriving on time and told what would happen if they didn't.

Mr Mallett said: “A very small number of students have recently started to truant lessons repeatedly, sometimes not appearing until well over halfway into a lesson and causing disruption to other classes in the meantime.

“We pride ourselves on being a traditional, inclusive and supportive school but, from time to time, in order to maintain our high standards, we have to take a firm line with a very small minority. 

"We believe the overwhelming majority of our parents are supportive of our high expectations."

The Sun has approached the school for further comment.