As you say, it's a great story that performs its narrative task very well (perhaps too well), and more importantly makes some meaningful points forcefully and effectively.

On rereading, it seems to me to have a few other elements that seem overdone or implausible.

- The school office phones the author's work, so has been told by someone at hospital reception that they are busy in A&E. It may be that this information has not been properly conveyed to the head, but the sarcastic 'FINALLY' seems unlikely.

- Would they all be gathered together in the office anyway, both students and their parents? I can't imagine that is approved policy, given the potential for further escalation of the situation.

- The 'metal ladle' - that seems like a detail included to raise a laugh rather than heighten the severity of the case, which might also suggest that the story was tailored for that particular site - aiming to appeal in different ways to different readers.

- The idea of a devout, church-going Catholic (not generally known for their questioning of authority) so robustly and defiantly challenging the head and staff of a Catholic school? Again, it's possible, but strikes me as a little unlikely.

None of which takes away from the value of the message or the appeal of the way it's told, and in fact makes it a more intriguing case study.

It would be a great piece to use in a classroom/workshop setting to analyse how we perceive evidence and truth, how emotive, narrative impact can persuade us of moral and even factual realities.

Thanks for sharing it, Malky.