COMPLAINTS of anti-social behaviour by teenagers have decreased after a school began offering residents coffee, tea and biscuits.
Steve Dobson, headteacher of Blackheath Bluecoat School, Old Dover Road, Greenwich, wanted to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour by pupils.
He came up with the idea to hold a coffee morning in order to bring residents and pupils together.
Resident Linda Mitchell, of Sunfields Place, said: "I was like a prisoner in my own home."
The 62-year-old added: "There was vandalism to the cars and excessive noise.
"If you're coming out at school time, the pupils can be quite intimidating. It has always been a problem."
Since the coffee mornings began, Mrs Mitchell says "the behaviour going home from school has been a lot better".
At the hour-long meetings pupils serve coffee, tea and biscuits in the library and residents are invited to discuss any recent problems.
Previously, Mr Dobson was receiving up to three calls a day from residents complaining about the behaviour of pupils at the end of the school day.
Complaints have now dropped to two a week and Mr Dobson attributes many of the residents' complaints to a lack of understanding of pupils' cultural background.
A large proportion of pupils at the school are black and Mr Dobson believes the coffee mornings have helped bridge a cultural divide.
He said: "The residents acknowledge there is a clash of cultures so it's about getting a better understanding of where the students are coming from and where the residents are coming from."
The third coffee morning was held on March 5 and residents had few complaints about the current situation.
Pupil Jessica Rowlings, 15, said: "Most of the students at the school do make a lot of noise and people round here want peace and quiet."
She added: "The meetings have definitely improved understanding with students."
The coffee mornings are held once a month and the next will be on April 22 from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
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