29 suspended for insulting teacher on Facebook

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Dozens of pupils at The Grey Coat Hospital School, a Westminster comprehensive, subscribed to a group called The Hate Society on the social networking site.

The "deeply insulting comments" came to light when a pupil printed the page and passed it around. It has since been removed from the web. The unnamed female teacher targeted was reportedly so upset that she needed counselling.

The girls were suspended for between two and 15 days just before Christmas, but some pupils feel the punishment was extreme. One said: "The school handled it very badly by suspending a huge number of people. It was just a stupid game that no one took any notice of. We have said sorry."

Grey Coat is rated "outstanding" by Ofsted. Former pupils include Labour politician Tamsin Dunwoody and television presenter Sarah Greene.

Teaching unions said the problem of cyberbullying was becoming worse

Headteacher Rachel Allard said: "The vast majority of parents who have been to see me about this incident understand why we have taken firm disciplinary action."