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A governor has asked parents to stop intimidating and threatening teachers – after "unpleasant communications" between pupils on social media.

Anthony Hannigan warned of an increase in parents using "threatening behaviour" towards teachers.

Mr Hannigan made the comments in a newsletter for parents at a Catholic school in Wales.

He said the harassment of teachers was "all too common".

In particular, he criticised the "growing expectation" that staff can "solve problems which originate outside of school".

He said the cause of most of the disputes were "unpleasant communications" between pupils online which teachers could not control.

He wrote: "Unpleasant communications between pupils via social media, outside of school is the root cause of the majority of incidences and this is something school cannot be expected to police.

"PSE [personal, social and health education] lessons are delivered on bullying and the appropriate use of social media: being respectful is a constant message."

Mr Hannigan is chairman of the board of governors at St Brigid's school in Denbigh.

(Image: Google)

Mr Hannigan wrote: "Parents feel entitled to behave in that way because they think the school isn't supporting them enough.

"The governing body would like to make it absolutely clear that we are operating on a zero-tolerance basis with regards to abusive behavior towards staff."

He did not reveal how many cases there had been but said that the cases were particularly disappointing given the school's "Christian ethos".

Mr Hannigan said that parents who continue to behave inappropriately will be hung up on or asked to leave school property if staff are threatened.

The former convent school St Brigid's has about 500 pupils aged from three to 19.