Primary school is forced to SHUT over ‘threats to staff’ as protest erupts outside over claims ‘boy, 8, was mistreated’
A PRIMARY school has been forced to shut early for Christmas over “threats to staff”.
A protest has erupted outside Barclay Primary School in Leyton, Waltham Forest over “the alleged mistreatment of an eight-year-old child”.
School bosses say there is “no evidence to support any allegations of bullying or misconduct”.
But protestors gathered outside the school this morning shouting: “Barclays, Barclays, shame on you.”
Footage shows tens of angry parents lining the streets at 11am after the school shut yesterday.
The school was due to break up for Christmas on Friday but it closed two days earlier due to “escalating threats against staff and the school”.
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A statement from the Lion Academy Trust says pupils were “being directly impacted by the actions of a misdirected and misinformed few, seeking to disrupt a primary school from exercising its proper function to educate children.”
It continued: “We will never tolerate bullying or intimidation from any source - and have the full support of the Department for Education, Ofsted and the police in this matter.
“We will take any necessary steps to protect our pupils, staff and values.
"In the light of escalating threats against staff and the school, based on malicious fabrications being broadcast by various media outlets, the Lion Academy Trust will be closing the school from 20th December 2023 to all parents and pupils for the Christmas break.
"This decision has been made after careful reflection and because we need the school to be a safe place for the children and staff."
The school says many happy families who attend the school "are now being directly impacted by the actions of a misdirected and misinformed few, seeking to disrupt a primary school from exercising its proper function to educate children".
They added: "The Trust will not enter into further discussions on these matters given the threatening and completely unacceptable conduct being demonstrated."