A BANNED schoolboy who took education chiefs to court in a bid to overturn his suspension has abandoned his legal bid though lack of money.
John Pllu, 17, was so incensed at his exclusion that he raised a civil action to be allowed back to his desk. His application for legal aid was refused after an objection by the education authority and he cannot afford to pay for the court case without help.
The teenager has now started at another school, St Michael's Academy in Kilwinning, Ayrshire.
He was sent home from St Andrew's Academy in Saltcoats in April for being ``indifferent'' after allegedly swearing at headmaster James Fegan when he was challenged about missing maths classes.
Last night, unemployed Edward Pllu, 41, said his son had learned lessons from the experience. At his home in Wallace Avenue, Stevenston, he said: ``Even if we had won the court case, there would have been no real winners or losers. John is an intelligent boy and his education must come first.''
Teachers at St Andrew's Academy were prepared to allow him back if he signed a declaration stating he would ``comply with the rules, regulations, and disciplinary requirements.'' He refused, saying that do have done so would have amounted to an admission of guilt.
Despite the school's complaint about his behaviour, he passed eight Standard Grades and is now trying to get the exams he needs to join the RAF.
Later, North Ayrshire's head of education Jim Tulips said he was pleased John had enrolled at another school. He added: ``It would have been preferable if he had chosen to sign an assurance earlier, so his absence could have been kept to a minimum.''
As he returned home from school yesterday, John said: ``I don't regret raising the action and I wanted to get into court. But paying from the case myself wasn't an option. I only have a milk round.
``I think I missed about five or six weeks of course work so I am just getting my head down trying to catch up.''
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