A SCHOOLBOY who was sent home for allegedly breaking the rules is taking his education authority to court in a bid to overturn his exclusion order.

Seventeen-year-old John Pllu had his dreams of becoming an RAF officer shattered after he was suspended from St Andrew's Academy, in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, earlier this year.

The school has since said he could return, providing he signs a declaration saying he will ``comply with the rules, regulations, and disciplinary requirements''.

However, he has refused to do this, claiming it would be an admission of guilt, and has raised a civil action at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court challenging the decision made by North Ayrshire Council education chiefs.

His mother, Mrs Theresa Pllu, 46, said yesterday: ``We've gone as high as the director of education but nobody's willing to back down. We feel he's been victimised and we're supporting him all the way.''

The dispute started on March 22 when John was kept out of an English class, his mother said. Mrs Pllu and her husband Edward, 41, of Wallace Avenue, Stevenston, spoke to a senior member of staff and the matter was sorted out.

However, a few days later, the school head, Mr James Fegan, said John had missed two maths periods and swore at him after being challenged. He was suspended for one day but on April 1 the couple were told their son had been excluded for being ``indifferent''.

Mrs Pllu went on: ``On April 3, John was asked to sign a declaration of co-operation but the wording was wrong and it would have meant he was at fault so he wouldn't sign it.

``We appealed to the council and they said they were in the right but he could try for St Michael's Academy in Kilwinning. But they wouldn't take him unless he signed the declaration.''

In a letter, the school claimed John, who was in his fifth year, was lacking in punctuality, classwork and homework, meeting deadlines, and accepting authority and discipline.

``John wanted to join the RAF but because he has eight standard grades they told him to sit his Highers and become an officer,'' Mrs Pllu added. ``Now he's missed them for at least another year.''

The teenager's lawyer, Ms Susan Bell, said: ``The action is an appeal against exclusion under the Education (Scotland) Act, on the grounds that the education authority erred in their reasons for exclusion.''

The case was called yesterday at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court but was continued until next week.

A spokeswoman for North Ayrshire Council said: ``He was temporarily excluded from St Andrew's Academy for a series of infringements of the school rules. He appealed to a council committee against exclusion and having heard his case the committee, made up of two parents and one elected member, found the school had acted reasonably and fairly.

``The exclusion period is now over and John, who's now in his sixth year, is welcome to return to St Andrew's Academy or, indeed, any alternative secondary school, after signing an assurance that he will do all he can to comply with the rules, regulations, and disciplinary requirements of the school.''

The spokeswoman added: ``This is normal practice after exclusion in all schools but, so far, John is not willing to sign. We are now anxious to press ahead and re-start his education as soon as possible.''