TEENAGERS have come face-to-face with traders and neighbours after complaints about their behaviour at the end of the school day.

Pupils from The Cherwell School, North Oxford, invited local people and businesses into the classrooms in Marston Ferry Road to discuss ways to resolve a series of issues.

It followed complaints from local people and businesses about hundreds of pupils congregating outside shops in Banbury Road, Summertown, at the end of lessons.

Police said they had received reports of large groups of children, gathering outside shop fronts. There were complaints of swearing, spitting and minor scuffles.

A group of six pupils selected by teachers were picked for the meeting with the hope they would feedback messages to their peers.

There are more than 1,700 pupils aged between 11 and 18 at the mixed comprehensive and teachers estimate up to 400 children often mill around near the shops after 3pm.

Mazen Mustafa, 15, said: “We were talking about what we could do to improve the situation in Summertown.

“It was to do with crowds of us outside shops – some people feel intimidated when they walk past.

“We said it would be good if there were some seated areas outside the shops.

“We decided respect was needed on both sides because there have been some incidents.”

Roisin Ross, 16, said: “The meeting gave them a different impression of us. They saw we were just normal people and they saw the police are on our side as well.”

Max Andrews, 16, said: “If they follow through with the things we said then it will be effective.”

Sgt Lis Knight, of the Summertown neighbourhood team, who oversaw the meeting with PCSOs and teachers, said: “This is typical of all schools. It’s the sheer number of students coming out at 3pm in large groups dropping litter, not being very thoughtful and hanging around shop doorways.

“We have had swearing, and antisocial behaviour, spitting and sometimes it escalates. We’ve had a few minor scuffles.”

Police said the problem had died down since officers had started working with the school. It peaked in September, when they were called to the shops almost every day.

She said: “The whole point was to bring everyone together to air their grievances, say how it affects them and come up with solutions. It has been a positive experience.”

Shop staff pledged to talk pupils in a more ‘adult’ manner and there was talk of installing benches for them to sit on,and more litter bins.

Assistant head Julie Stuart-Thompson said pupils had spent a day interviewing shoppers in Summertown about their perception of young people last month.

She said: “The main problem is the sheer volume of students.

“There have been isolated incidents where shopkeepers have called the school and we have gone to see what’s happening.”

Jordon Clement, deputy manager of the Co-op in Banbury Road, said: “The outcome was very positive.

“We needed them to understand some of our more vulnerable customers felt uncomfortable.”

John Dean, 80, of Dorchester Court in Ferry Pool Road, said he hoped the situation would be resolved soon.