Former Stockley student appeals dismissal

Riza Sulaiman believes the school, in Park View Road, Yiewsley, should only have expelled him permanently as a last resort, and is aggrieved his son did not get a chance to take his GCSE exams.

He said: "My son was wrong to get into a fight and he admits that, but I do not believe he should have been excluded.

"I want to clear my son's name, and restore his chance of an education and allow him to take his GCSEs.

"Nowadays to get a job it is difficult enough, especially without having qualifications."

His son, who is in the police cadets, originally had dreams of a career in IT, but is now studying for an NVQ in catering and hospitality at Ealing, Hammersmith, and West London College.

Mr Sulaiman claims he and his son, who suffers from dyspraxia, a form of dyslexia, have exhausted all internal appeal processes at the school, and are taking the case to a judicial review as a last resort.

However, Mr Sulaiman, a law student is presenting the case himself, while the Academy have spent £13,000 to date on legal fees to defend the action, costs Mr Sulaiman may have to bear if his case is unsuccessful.

"I cannot believe they are spending so much money, this is how taxpayer's money is being spent.

"Since last October he has been in limbo, when a youngster is excluded from school, there is nothing to do, he was able to spend two hours a week at a youth centre, but that was it."

No date has yet been set for a judicial review, although all parties are expecting to receive notification shortly.

Ian Storey, principal at Stockley Academy said: "A student was permanently excluded from Stockley Academy in October 2008.

"The Academy has followed due process and it is not appropriate to discuss individual cases."