A MOTHER has said she will remove her son from a £22m North-East super school over the wearing of a school tie.

Susan Lane's son, Danny, was sent home from the Kings Academy, in Middlesbrough, for breaking the school's disciplinary code.

The 15-year-old was suspended after he went to school with the top button of his shirt undone and his tie hanging loose.

Mrs Lane, 38, of Crimdon Close, Hemlington, said: "School is supposed to be the best days of their lives, but they are being treated like they are in the Army. We are all for discipline but not when it is like this."

Mrs Lane made her decision to take Danny out of school yesterday, after an unsuccessful meeting to resolve the matter with headteacher Nigel McQuoid.

Her son had been suspended for the second time in as many weeks, firstly for answering a teacher back, then for not wearing his tie correctly.

She said he was being victimised because of his reputation for clowning around in lessons and is also considering his 12-year-old brother Aaron's future at the school.

Mr McQuoid defended the school's stance and said no child would have been suspended purely for not wearing their tie straight.

He said: "Any child who is untidily presented will be asked to make themselves look tidy.

"If they refuse, deny or have to be asked to do it 500 times then it becomes an issue of obedience or otherwise.

"We do not expel children for untidiness but we challenge them to become tidy. We make a judgement when refusal becomes defiance and we always discuss the matter with parents."