Five Leaving Cert students suspended over water fight

At least five Leaving Cert students at a fee-paying school in south Dublin were suspended from school just weeks before their exams following a water fight on school property.

The students of High School, Rathgar are due to sit their Leaving Cert in two weeks' time.

Parents of some sixth-year pupils have reacted angrily to the suspensions, arguing that the move was disproportionate and upset some students in the run-up to their exams.

The same school was at the centre of controversy in 2012 when three sixth-year students were expelled and dozens suspended after organising a rave in the school’s common room.

On this occasion, a number of pupils were involved in a water fight last week which ended up in the common room.

Students who were involved and their parents were informed of the suspensions last Thursday.

Exams

The suspensions were postponed until the beginning of this week when it emerged some of the students would be unable to take part in their Leaving Cert practical art exams.

While some parents say they were initially told the suspensions would last until the beginning of exams, a number of students were back at school yesterday.

Some parents say they are unhappy at how the matter has been handled and say it has disrupted preparations for the Leaving Cert.

“It’s over the top. This was end-of-term high jinks and now it’s been blown up into a major issue which is distracting other pupils,” said one parent, who declined to be named.

Disciplinary measures

Another parent said they felt a range of other disciplinary measures – short of suspension – should have been used given the proximity to the students’ exams.

“They were mostly girls involved, letting off steam. Some of them are quite upset about it all now,” the parent said.

The principal of the school, Andrew Forrest, did not respond to requests for comment from The Irish Times yesterday.

A 2012 version of the school’s code of conduct states that any pupil involved in a serious breach of discipline “will be invited to a meeting with the year head and the principal or deputy principal . . . The details of the breach will be read to the parents and the pupil’s contribution to the school . . . in the past will be taken into account”.

It is understood the suspended students will be able to sit their Leaving Cert at the school.

A school graduation ceremony is also expected to go ahead as planned.

High School is one of the leading private schools in the State and features strongly in the annual feeder school league tables, which track progression of Leaving Cert students to third level.

Fees are in the region of €5,800 per year.