A VULNERABLE teenager at the centre of claims an older man was posing as a pupil at Broad Oak Sports College has left the school.

Last week police, Bury Council and school leaders refuted “unfounded” allegations made by parents on Facebook that a 29-year-old man had masqueraded as a year 10 pupil.

Posts on a group which had more than 100 members, but has since been deleted, alleged the ‘man’ had been regularly attending lessons at the Broad Oak.

After outrage from parents, Greater Manchester Police confirmed he was in fact a “vulnerable” 14-year-old boy from Afghanistan who recently immigrated to the UK.

Now, Broad Oak has announced the teenager will no longer be continuing his education at the school in Hazel Avenue, Bury “for his own safety”.

Detective Constable Carolyn Morley, from the Bury North division, said: “Detectives have undertaken inquires into this matter and assessments have been carried out by the relevant agencies, and we are confident that no offences have been committed.

“This young man is a vulnerable child, fleeing persecution in his country of birth, and this speculation is unwarranted and unhelpful.”

A Facebook group named ‘School Pupil Safety Awareness’ was set up by worried parents last week, during half term, to discuss and share the allegations.

Headteacher Mr Stephen Brecken said: “Last week’s story in the Bury Times, and the spurious and unfounded comments on social media that prompted it, have unfairly damaged our school.

“The police have confirmed that there is no truth whatsoever in allegations that a 29-year-old man was masquerading as a pupil at the school, and that the individual in question is in fact a vulnerable 14-year-old boy.

“Unfortunately, we have taken the decision that, for his own safety after having been described on social media and in the press, the young person in question will not be continuing his education in our school.

“The use of social media to air concerns about the school is not the way to support children or the school and, as in this case, has created a level of anxiety among the school community that is quite unfounded and undeserved.”

Mr Brecken wrote to all parents on Tuesday (February 24).

A spokesman for Bury Council confirmed the authority had investigated the allegations but had found them to be “completely untrue”.

He added: “Broad Oak has a strong reputation for keeping students safe and has robust safeguarding procedures in place.

“We hope that the school has suffered no long-term harm from this episode and are confident that it will continue to provide an excellent education for the local community.”