Worried parents demand answers over new pupil who ‘could be 40’ joining school after moving to UK
WORRIED parents are today demanding answers over concerns that a new pupil at their children’s school could be a “40-year-old man”.
Parents whose kids go to the school in Coventry received a letter from the local council after a picture of the “upper year group” pupil was posted on Facebook.
More than 70 parents responded to the post with many saying they were planning on taking the matter further.
Pupils were concerned after seeing the student – who has “thin hairline” and “no birth certificate or passport” – in their class.
One parent, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the Metro: “Pupils were coming home saying there’s a man in our class, some were even saying they reckoned he could be aged up to 40.
‘COULD BE 40’
“He has a thin hairline and apparently he has no birth certificate or passport. He might be the right age, he might not. Either way parents would like some clarity.”
The student is believed to have travelled to Britain without any paperwork before he was placed at the unnamed school in Coventry.
The city council told parents all necessary procedures had been followed in order to check the correct age of the student.
It comes two years after a schoolboy in Ipswich, who said he was 15 but was accused by classmates of being a 30-year-old man, was found to be an adult.
Pupils were coming home saying there’s a man in our class, some were even saying they reckoned he could be aged up to 40.”
Concerned parent
The pupil – alleged to be an asylum seeker from the Middle East – was removed from the school – after an official report assessed him as being over 18 years of age.
An investigation was launched when a pupil posted a picture of their new classmate in uniform in a classroom on Snapchat with a message saying: “How’s there a 30-year-old man in our maths class?”
Parents were shocked, and some even removed their children from the school as classmates shared old pictures of him on Facebook, showing him with a full beard, a hairy chest and swigging a beer.
According to the Metro, the Coventry council letter to parents read: “All Local Authorities and Trusts are obliged to work within the guidance as set out by the Department for Education and also immigration processes.
IMMIGRATION PROCESS
“When pupils arrive in England and present an application for a school place, we (Local Authorities and Schools) are obliged to process these applications.
“If there are concerns or doubts regarding a pupil’s age at the time of application, schools and Local Authorities are able to ask for further evidence in the form of Birth Certificates and Passports.
“However, please note, on some rare occasions if pupils arrive as asylum seekers and alone, i.e. without parents, these may not always be available.”
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A spokesman for the school said: “While it is inappropriate to comment on individual pupils, we can confirm we have clear procedures in place in conjunction with the local authority to ensure all of our pupils have the right to attend and learn [at the school].
“Where a pupil from overseas applies for a school place, we follow the guidance set out by the Department for Education and, where necessary, seek evidence, in the form of a birth certificate and passport to confirm the pupil’s identity and age.
“I want to reassure parents we have followed all the correct procedures regarding the identity of all pupils placed on the school roll.”
