Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Marlborough boy will not seek reinstatement

Sarah Cassidy,Education Correspondent
Wednesday 28 September 2005 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Russell Gray, 49, who owns a London property restoration company, is still pursuing the main burden of his case - that Marlborough College, in Wiltshire, acted unlawfully by breaching its own contract with parents by expelling his 16-year-old son.

Rhys Gray was expelled this summer after totting up an "exceptionally poor" disciplinary record. Marlborough's master, Nicholas Sampson, ruled he was "unwilling or unable to profit from the educational opportunities offered". Rhys achieved four As, three Bs and two C grades at GCSE and had hoped to return to Marlborough to study A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry.

Richard McManus QC, counsel for Mr Gray, yesterday told Southampton County Court the school had soured any prospect of Rhys returning to Marlborough and accused it of attempting to "interfere with natural justice".

The previous day the school released a witness statement from Mr Sampson, which had been lodged with the court, claiming the school had also recorded "frequent instances of Rhys bullying other pupils, exposing himself, swearing and disrupting classes".

The family dispute these claims and Mr McManus told the court: "My concern is that it [Mr Sampson's statement] contains some highly prejudicial material that was never put to Mr Gray or Rhys. The effect of this is that I am no longer going to be seeking an injunction [to order Rhys' reinstatement]. The college has destroyed the relationship of trust and confidence between the parties."

Speaking outside court, Mr Gray said the reinstatement attempt had been withdrawn "because it has become apparent from the way the school have conducted themselves that it is no longer tenable to suggest that the working relationship could be restored."

Earlier, Dr Niall Hamilton, Rhys' housemaster, said that Rhys had "a general disrespect for authority which goes far beyong the usual teenage tendency to test boundaries."

Deputy circuit judge Anthony Thompson will give his ruling on the case today.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in