The former school of 14-year-old stabbing victim Jaden Moodie has been accused of using expulsion as a way to "get rid of problem children that desperately need help".
Statistics have found that Heathcote School and Science College in North Chingford is responsible for a large proportion of permanent and fixed-term expulsions in Waltham Forest.
One parent who wished to remain anonymous has claimed that the school has a history of removing problem children rather than instituting rehabilitation measures.
She said: "Heathcote School has become known amongst parents and children for expelling children rather than trying to work with them.
"The "problem" children are instead expelled so that the school does not have to deal with their problems and instead can shift the issues elsewhere.
"For the last few years expulsions and suspensions have soared, because it's an easier option to get rid of the problem children than to manage the problem, even though they desperately need help and guidance.
"With the death of Jaden Moodie, a light has been shined on the worst possible outcome for schools that fail to govern, support and help children that desperately need help."
According to statistics released last August, Heathcote School and Science College was responsible for 10.5 per cent of the permanent and fixed-term expulsions across the total 27 schools in Waltham Forest.
In total, Heathcote School and Science College reported 186 permanent and fixed period expulsions during the 2016/17 period out of a total of 1,764 in the borough.
The school was accountable to 22.2 per cent of expulsions reported in the borough for 2016/17 based on racist abuse.
And was further answerable for 20 per cent of expulsions related to bullying and verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult out of the total 25 and 211 cases reported across the borough respectively.
In total, Heathcote School and Science College reported 186 permanent and fixed period expulsions during the 2016/17 period out of a total of 1,764 in Waltham Forest, meaning a large proportion of expulsions have come from one school.
A friend of the 14-year-old stabbed to death in Leyton in January told The Sun that his exclusion from the school put him on a path to tragedy.
The classmate, Tanner Reid-Brady believed that Jaden did not receive enough support after he was abruptly excluded from Heathcote School.
Mr Reid-Brady told The Sun: "All the teachers liked Jaden. There was never a point where he started to turn dark but there was some incident where he allegedly used social media inappropriately — and the next thing we knew he had been excluded from school.
"I don’t think there was any support after that and he started hanging out at the mall.
"Jaden didn’t deserve to be killed. Yes, he had good and bad friends. We all do. But to be murdered and then condemned?
"He was killed in the environment he lived in. This is a fight against evil. As a community, we need to take care of one another and take control, because no one in government is helping."
Heathcote School and Science College is a state-funded community secondary school.
The school reported that expulsion was only used as a last resort.
A school spokesperson said: "Heathcote School would only ever exclude a child as a last resort and only after careful consideration of the impact this has on the pupil, and the consequences their behaviour has had on the safety of other students or their education.
"As part of school improvement work Heathcote School introduced a new behavioural policy in September 2018 to improve behaviour both in and out of school and give pupils the best chance of having disruption-free learning, thus enabling them to make maximum progress.
"To support children with behavioural needs the school has invested in skilled staff and introduced a range of pupil support programmes, including the Oak provision where skilled behaviour staff liaise with outside agencies including Early Help alongside teachers, school staff, and parents to try and support the emotional well-being of pupils. Heathcote School also has a dedicated on-site counsellor for pupils to provide additional bespoke support.
"This is part of our vision to enable all our pupils to have the best school experience in preparation for a happy and safe adult life, where they can make the most of their life chances.
"In our most recent OFSTED report inspectors commented 'the vast majority of pupils feel that behaviour, both in and out of lessons, has improved significantly this year and pupils are clear about the school’s expectations of their conduct when in school'. Heathcote School is committed to ensuring that pupils’ behaviour is as exemplary in the local community as it is when they are in school."
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