An exclusive boarding school in Berkshire has come under fire after school leavers dressed as blacked-up slaves for their leaving pictures.
A group of pupils at the Oratory School planned to arrive at the informal photoshoot dressed as cotton workers before they were turned away by their headmaster.
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The boys posted images on social media that have sparked outrage across Twitter and Facebook.
Some have criticised the school for a lack of action or apology.
Three sixth form pupils painted themselves black, while two other pupils at the school in Woodcote, Reading, Berkshire, dressed in suits with guns held to the three slaves that were holding sheets of cotton.
The informal photo is tradition at the £11,000 a term school and is always done in fancy dress.
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However, these pupils were turned away because of their controversial outfits.
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In a response, the boarding school said: The Head Master was present for the photo and refused to let the offensively dressed pupils participate.
The photo – the existence of which we were unaware – was taken and posted on social media was taken unofficially and in no way with the consent of the school.
We are extremely shocked and saddened that this has happened and apologise unreservedly for the offence caused. We are dealing with this internally.
The school faced another controversy in 2014 when a tribunal heard that the public school boys had skinned cats alive and beat younger pupils with belts, with a former teacher saying the head master had condoned the incidents with a boys will be boys attitude.
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