16264/1TWO Year 11 pupils at Lavington School, the subject of allegations of bad behaviour in recent weeks, have spoken up to defend the school.

Joanne Hewes and Dulcie Patten, currently sitting their GCSEs, are furious that the school where they have spent their entire secondary career has been depicted in the national press as a hive of bad behaviour, drug taking and violence.

They say they do not recognise this as a fair description of the school, they have never witnessed any violence or drug taking and don't know anyone who routinely comes to school armed with a knife.

Dulcie told the Gazette: "We both live outside the catchment area but we wanted to come here because it had such good results and the behaviour was so good.

"Many of the things said about the school took place years and years ago and it is very unfair that Lavington should be pilloried in this way."

Joanne said that she was not aware of any bad behaviour at the school. She said: "Anything like that is always nipped in the bud. Lavington is like any other school and has a few behaviour problems.

"But there is nothing like what happens in other secondary schools in Wiltshire, where there are pupils that teachers simply refuse to teach because their behaviour is so bad."

English and RE teacher Elizabeth Greed has spoken in public of some pupils being unteachable on Mondays because of the drugs they had taken over the weekend.

She specified the taking of horse tranquillisers by some pupils, though she has always denied that this has happened at Lavington.

The girls said they had never heard of any pupils taking drugs and that news of this kind would go round the school like wildfire.

Dulcie said: "We indulge in gossip as much as anybody else. If things like this were going on, we would know."

Reports of vandalism by Year 11 pupils who will be leaving shortly have been blown out of all proportion, say the girls. Dulcie said: "There was a small amount of red food dye spilt in the pool but because of the chlorine in the water it was all gone by lunchtime."

Joanne added: "You have to accept some high spirits when people are about to leave school but was nothing compared to what has happened at other schools."

They had particular praise for headmaster Martin Watson who they said is always available to talk to if any problems come up.

The school has set up a number of initiatives to help pupils who might be having problems, including peer educators, as well as a "buddy" system, by which younger pupils can get support and advice from older pupil members.