The row over the exclusion of the two boys who made death threats against a teacher this morning deepened with the news that support staff have backed teachers and voted in favour of strike action, should the boys be returned to the school.
If the boys are returned, an all-out strike by staff would likely mean the 1,200-pupil Glyn Technology school in Ewell, Surrey, would be closed.
Last week, the education secretary, Estelle Morris, ordered that the boys' exclusion be upheld and told the local education authority to make alternative arrangements for their education.
The boys had been excluded by the headteacher and governors after making 44 phone calls to a PE teacher, threatening to "stab him in the back of the head" and warning him he had five days to live.
But an independent appeals panel, requested by the parents of the boys, now aged 15 and 16, overturned the school's decision and ordered it to take the boys back.
Ms Morris' intervention caused a widespread debate about the role of the appeals panels after it transpired she did not have the authority to step in.
Now, school support staff, including receptionists, technicians and administrators, have confirmed they will walk out rather than accept the return of the two boys, their union, the GMB, confirmed.
The GMB said it believed the school would have to close if the support staff refused to work.
"Our members are very angry at the thought that these two boys could be readmitted to the school," said a GMB spokesman.
"We hope the local authority will take note of the anger on the ground over this case. The threats made by the boys were completely inexcusable," he added.
The boys and their parents - who are insisting that the appeals panel's verdict is upheld - are currently in talks with Surrey local education authority, which is attempting to resolve the matter.
The LEA did not comment directly on the GMB industrial action threat, but a spokesman said: "What eventually happens will depend on the course of action agreed between the local education authority and the parents."
