Birmingham school apology after claims 'abusive and threatening pupils' causing residents misery

Jewellery Quarter Academy said it was taking complaints 'very seriously'

A Jewellery Quarter school has apologised after residents claimed unruly pupils were kicking their doors, banging and spitting at their windows, and threatening strangers. JQ Academy has been hit with a number of serious complaints over pupils' alleged "threatening behaviour".

Furious locals claimed some were "causing chaos" every time the 3pm bell rang for the end of the day at the Albion Street school - with youngsters spilling out onto residential streets and causing mayhem. Residents alleged they had been sworn at, threatened and seen their properties attacked.

A group of worried residents shared their concerns in a private neighbourhood Facebook group. One asked: "Has anyone been having issues with the kids from JQ Academy, trying to kick in doors and bash on windows?"

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"They’ve been banging on windows at my place as well," another resident said in reply. A third claimed: "My partner has just had to speak with the headmaster after one of the kids threatened her outside Tesco."

Another claimed in a message: "If you say anything to them it get even worse. I had to clean my windows several times from spits (like llamas)."

A fifth alleged: "The other day I walked past and I was shouted at. I was called a slur too, and was so upset." Agreeing, another resident claimed: "Once, I was walking down Pope Street and then a few kids from a classroom shouted “f****** c***” and then hid and shouted again. Reported to the school."

JQ Academy said it was "sorry" that "if in some instances" student conduct had "fallen short". The secondary school said it was taking complaints "very seriously".

A spokesperson for the secondary school told BirminghamLive: "We expect our students to conduct themselves respectfully at all times on their way in and out of school and we're sorry if in some instances this has fallen short of our high standards.

"Respect and citizenship are important elements of our personal development lessons, and our staff will continue to have a visible presence around school at arrival and departure times to remind students of this, when necessary. We would like to reassure our neighbours in the Jewellery Quarter that we take any complaints very seriously, and will follow up any concerns raised, in line with our behaviour policy."