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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
John Scheerhout

Pupils suspended and forced to attend diversity lessons over allegations of monkey chants and Nazi salutes in class

A school suspended two pupils and provided extra lessons on diversity after it emerged children had made monkey noises and performed Nazi salutes at black and Asian children, the M.E.N. has learned.

A school investigation also uncovered a pupils' Snapchat group titled 'The Nazi Party' said to have been used to share disturbing content.

The headteacher at Saddleworth School near Oldham, Mike Sanderson, told the M.E.N: "Discrimination and prejudice have no place at Saddleworth School and any behaviour which falls short of our expectations will be dealt with very seriously."

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Although, the secondary school in Diggle, which has about 1,400 pupils, has declined to confirm details of any of the incidents at the school, families of children who have been subjected to abuse have been given shocking details of what has been uncovered by school staff. These details have been passed to the M.E.N.

The families have been told two boys in year nine were suspended for a period but were allowed back into lessons before the half term break.

It followed allegations that black and Asian children had been subjected to monkey noises and Nazi salutes.

The families of the affected children were 'devastated' when they learned about the abuse, the M.E.N. has been told.

The incidents prompted an investigation which uncovered a Snapchat group titled 'The Nazi Party' on which material suggesting an interest in far-right politics was shared, the families have been told.

At least two pupils were suspended but were allowed to return to school before half term although they were separated from peers for a period and had to attend additional lessons on living in a diverse society, the M.E.N. has learned.

The pupils responsible for the monkey chants and Nazi salutes will be asked to apologise to the pupils they are said to have abused, the families have been told.

The school investigation is said to have uncovered three 'instigators' of the Snapchat group who are said to have 'added' fellow pupils to the group. The parents of all the members of the group have been contacted by school staff, the M.E.N. has been told.

Among the material shared on the group were clips of 'influencer' Andrew Tate, who has denied encouraging misogyny.

Saddleworth School, Uppermill. (Oldham Advertiser)

Other alleged incidents in school include pupils singing songs about the Klu Klux Klan to a mixed race pupil, asking an Asian pupil 'is your dad a terrorist?', making monkey noises at black and mixed heritage children, asking Asian pupils 'are your mum and dad related?', calling a Jewish teacher 'a f***ing Jew", saying 'I hate Jews' and making Nazi salutes in class disguised as raising a hand to answer a question.

Staff have told affected families they are 'shocked and horrified' by what they uncovered.

The school declined to confirm or discuss details of any of the incidents nor any sanctions imposed on pupils or any other actions taken when asked by the M.E.N.

However, headteacher Mike Sanderson said in a statement: "Saddleworth School has high expectations for our young people and their conduct towards each other.

"As a school we aim to develop students who understand, respect and celebrate the diversity in our school community and beyond.

"Discrimination and prejudice have no place at Saddleworth School and any behaviour which falls short of our expectations will be dealt with very seriously."

Oldham Council has declined to comment.

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