A HEADTEACHER has been accused of bullying after threatening a parent with legal action when he openly criticised school policy.

Stuart Allen tweeted that he thought the decision by Regency High School to charge £38.50 per term for an after-school club used by his autistic son Jack was outrageous.

The school had previously offered the trampolining club for free.

Mr Allen said Sara Harding, who took over as head at Regency, in Carnforth Drive, Warndon, this term, subsequently phoned him, demanding he remove a picture of the school's sign from his tweet or face legal action.

The picture was the only part of the tweet to identify the school.

Her stance has prompted a stern rebuke from councillor Marc Bayliss, who said headteachers had no right to use public money to threaten parents who disagreed with them.

Mr Allen said: "I don't think I've ever complained about anything the school has done before but this has upset me and made me so angry to the point that I've felt that I needed to shout about it."

The row erupted after Regency High, which caters for children with special needs, told parents they would be charged for the after-school clubs.

Mr Allen, who also wrote to complain to the school, said: "I'm not sure if it may be a case of disability discrimination because mainstream kids don't have to pay for clubs.

"Is it because our children need one-to-one help rather than one teacher to 20 so we are being forced to pay for it?

"These are children that can't necessarily go across to play parks or go to the swimming pool. It might be the only chance they have to do these activities."

Mr Allen, a well known businessman, said there was no consultation with parents, who were only informed about the charges when the clubs began this term - after many had already told their children they could attend.

He said: "Parents haven't had the chance to plan or budget.

"We could have got together over the summer and tried some charity events to help pay for these things.

"What about the option of paying weekly?"

He also insists the clubs are extra-curricular activities and not offered as wraparound care for working parents.

Mr Allen said when he complained Mrs Harding blamed staffing costs and said the school's only other option was to stop running the clubs completely.

He called the charges "blackmail" adding: "I'm going to pay it because I don't want him to miss out so I don't think I've got any choice."

Cllr Bayliss who is the cabinet member for children and families said: "I don't think public money should be used to threaten parents with legal action, especially for simply saying I disagree with this policy."

"Parents have a right to express their right to freedom of speech.

"For a school to be attempting to shut that down is quite clearly wrong."

Headteacher Sara Harding said she would respond to Mr Allen directly.