A Shotley peninsula student was excluded from school on Monday after being caught in possession of a small knife.

The Holbrook Academy Year 8 pupil was sent home while an investigation is carried out, after teachers found out he had been showing off a pocket penknife to a younger age group.

Nub News understands, the youngster, who lives on the peninsula, has been given school work to carry out while at home and is not likely to return within the next 10 days, with permanent exclusion a possibility. Staff at the academy have to weigh up the two breaches, taking a knife to school and not being in the appropriate bubble, against any mitigation.

Tom Maltby, the academy's new headteacher, is understood to be firm but fair after his previous role as the head of The Hollyfield School and Sixth Form Centre in Surbiton, took immediate action in sending the 12-year-old pupil home but declined to discuss the matter in depth.

Mr Maltby told Nub News: "The school responded appropriately to a small pocket pen knife being bought onto school site."

The disciplinary issue came at the start of the new head's regime along with complaints by residents over parking issues, as the school put in new procedures for students arriving and leaving the site. More details here...