SCHOOL bosses have warned pupils they could be excluded and reported to the police over “derogatory” videos being shared about staff on social media. 

Westcliff High School for Girls has issued a warning to parents and pupils after school leadership became aware of negative videos being shared on social media platform TikTok tagged with the school’s initials.

One such video, which remains up at the time of publication, mocks named teachers for “waffling,” making “dead” jokes, and taking up “half the space” in the corridors.  

Pupils have also shared several videos celebrating culture, friendships and diversity at the school.

“As always seems to happen, when something trends on social media it starts with fairly good intentions and then becomes more and more derogatory – mainly because the more horrible you can be the more ‘likes’ you will receive,” deputy head Sandra Carroll told parents in a letter.

“There are examples of positive videos and posts that have been shared but I am aware that there are videos or posts on TikTok that have been created by our students, and have been ‘liked’ by our students, that are defamatory and very personal towards their friends or staff at the school.”

Leaders at the “outstanding” Ofsted-rated grammar school, which has a reputation for educational success, have warned parents their children could be excluded for “harassment” and “targeting” staff.

Ms Carroll says the school will also inform the police if it believes a crime has been committed under the Malicious Communications Act 1988.

“Even if a child writes something about a member of our school community, staff or students, which is false or grossly offensive as ‘just as a bit of fun’ or as a rumour and then posts it on social media, they are committing a criminal offence,” Mrs Carroll told parents.

“We have recently worked with the police, who in turn work with TikTok and other social media platforms, to investigate and identify the source of these posts.”

Parents were further urged to employ parental software to restrict their children’s access to social media.

“With the recent high profile case surrounding the death of Molly Russell, who died while suffering the negative effects of online bullying, I know that the vast majority of our students understand the importance of modelling our value of kindness, both in school and out of school,” Ms Carroll wrote.