I READ with no surprise that Bury has the largest expulsion rate in the country. Surprising I can read actually, as when I was unreasonably expelled just over a decade ago my opportunities in life were statistically thrown out of the window.

I was left “Not Engaged in Employment or Training” — or NEET as it is called now. This was partly my fault, but I believe that such drastic actions only increased my disengagement from society.

The one in six teenagers who are currently out of work or education in this country could be dead within 10 years, so senior government education adviser Jon Coles recently said.

This is a worrying future for our youth and it seems that Bury is still trigger happy when it comes to expelling children.

I wish to thank Mr SCRUTON-ised for making my life a lot more challenging and giving me minimal opportunities, due to one mistake I made that, in today’s schools, would be “normal” behaviour.

Stephen Boardman Bury