The Hitchin headteacher hailed as a hero after an incident at his school, has called for an end to parents and relatives turning up at the school gates 'who think it is appropriate to aggressively challenge students or staff.'

Geraint Edwards, the hugely respected head of Hitchin's Priory School, has called an end to the 'totally unacceptable' practice which, as he explains, means the 'consequences of such behaviour sees the escalation of ill-feeling both in school and the wider community.'

In a powerful letter sent to parents after school today, Tuesday (September 19), seen by Nub News, Mr Edwards, shares the following:

At the end of the school day [last] Wednesday (September 13), there was an incident outside the school gates. The facts related to this incident are:

I was talking to two young people – one current student and one ex-student – on the grassed area across from the school exit onto Bedford Road.

Whilst I was in discussion with these two young people, an adult male family member of a current student took it upon himself to launch a verbal attack on the ex-student who understandably reacted negatively to this.

To prevent the situation from escalating into a full-blown physical altercation, I restrained the ex- student and ultimately ended up on the ground with him whilst colleagues intervened with the adult.

The incident happened very quickly and on releasing the ex-student there continued to be the need to control the situation whilst students were leaving the school site.

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I would like to make it clear that this incident would not have happened if the adult had not taken the action he did.

I would also like to make it clear that there were no knives or other weapons linked to this incident as has been speculated upon on social media.

The police were called and they arrived swiftly to the scene and I am very appreciative of their advice and support.

On Thursday, September 14, I sent out my first letter of the academic year; within that, there was a paragraph making direct reference to the behaviour of parents/carers/relatives.

"Although it rarely happens, we do have parents or relatives who turn up at the end of the school day who think it is appropriate to aggressively challenge students or staff.

"All members of the school community have the right to leave school without fear of aggression or abuse from parents or relatives. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable.

"The consequences of such behaviour sees the escalation of ill-feeling both in school and the wider community which then takes more time to resolve.

"The school will involve the police and look to ban offending parents or relatives from the school site.

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"The Priory School is private property and parents do not have an automatic right to enter the school site. Parents have an 'implied license' to be allowed on the site which is directed by the school.'

"The incident on the 13th was unpleasant, and such events create a range of unintended consequences that affect the wider community."

.........

Herts Police also told Hitchin Nub News: "Police were called at 3.38pm on Wednesday (13 September) to reports of an altercation between two teenage boys outside The Priory School in Bedford Road, Hitchin.

"Officers attended but the boys left the scene. Enquiries established that the altercation had been verbal and as such there was no further police action."