A headteacher has criticised a Norfolk council for putting his school in an "invidious position" after pupils were required to take a pledge that they would be nice to gipsy and traveller children and not bully them.
The incident happened during a recent local democracy workshop organised by South Norfolk Council which was attended by a group of youngsters from Spooner Row Primary School.
The village, near Wymondham, has been put forward by the district council as a potential location for a permanent gipsy and traveller site, sparking fierce objections from residents who consider the rural community to be totally unsuitable for a settlement.
And the school's headteacher, Simon Wakeman, has made an official complaint to the authority, in which he called for a full investigation of the incident - also sending parents copies of his correspondence with the council to keep them fully informed. Mr Wakeman said: "I am very unhappy about any child of primary school age being asked to take any form of pledge to any group in society. While South Norfolk Council may not have supplied the speakers and delivered the workshop, the council remains responsible for what took place at the event.
"The taking of the pledge from my pupils has placed the school in an invidious position. Throughout the consultation process, the governing body and I have made it clear to parents and the local community that we are remaining objective about the proposals and cannot, and will not, take a view either for or against them."
John Fuller, South Norfolk Council leader, said he has sent a personal apology to the school. "I can see that people might feel as if the council has behaved in an underhand manner, but I can assure them that nothing like that was planned or intended. And I am sad that a well-meant attempt to breach the divide in society has backfired in this way."
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