TWO members of staff at a Kent school have been suspended after they tied up a student and bound his arms and legs.

The sixth former was left on the floor for several minutes before being released at the Folkestone Academy. The incident was witnessed by other pupils who filmed it on their mobile phones.

Principal John Patterson said action was taken as soon as senior staff at the town's new school, which only opened in September, were made aware of what had happened.

The pair, from the vocational unit, are suspended while an investigation involving police and social services is carried out.

In a letter sent home to parents Mr Patterson said the incident was a "prank".

He said: "Although this incident may have been intended to be good humoured, the Academy sees the alleged behaviour as totally inappropriate and unacceptable within a school.

"We have suspended the two staff involved while the matter is investigated and have referred the incident to the police and social services.

"We understand that, after their initial investigations, the joint team do not intend to take the matter any further, neither do the boy concerned nor his parents wish to dwell further on the matter."

Mr Patterson said he believed the vocational centre at the school had "very quickly established a reputation for high quality training" and he hoped the incident would not overshadow the good work which had been achieved in the unit and at the school.

He said: "It would be a great shame if this excellent progress were to be overshadowed by an incident of horseplay. In spite of this incident, we are delighted with the start the Academy has made."

During the Academy's first week, 32 children were given temporary exclusions. This figure quickly rose to more than 100 in the fortnight that followed.

Mr Patterson said he wanted to make it clear to pupils that unacceptable behaviour would not be tolerated.