Party not initiated by school: principal

Three arrests were made, not four as reported on last week’s Observer front page.

Two were former students while the other had not attended the school.

Executive Principal Mike Conn (pictured) has reacted angrily to the claim that the gathering on the Down on the last day of half term was all Bexhill High pupils, and also to the suggestion by Inspector James Scott of Bexhill station that the school in future provides staff to monitor the event.

He said: “These were not children from Bexhill High who were arrested.

“There were children from at least seven schools there.

“It is not true it was an organised party for Bexhill High, and it is not true that four were arrested - three were adults, in that they were over the age of 16, and the fourth child was taken home.”

He said the information in the Observer was “wrong” and said: “These children have done 11 years at school.

“They were not just Bexhill High students, there were a number of schools represented there.

“These children were letting off steam.

“I do not condone underage drinking, I think it is atrocious, and any parent who does needs to look hard at themself in the mirror.

“But that a group of Bexhill High students was running riot is not true.”

He added: “It is clear that a number of people attended the Down on that Friday and they came from many different establishments and areas.

“I believe that the event was published on a social network site and this was certainly not something initiated or supported by Bexhill High School.

“The article implies that we have a responsibility for this and we certainly do not.

“In fact members of the public, of all ages not just school students, attended the Down and some behaved in an unlawful way.

“However, there were clearly many who behaved perfectly well and should not be tarnished by the behaviour of a few.”

• Letters: pages six and seven