Joshua Moscrop, 13, was one of eight youngsters excluded from Woodham Community College in Newton Aycliffe.

The college said they had broken a ban which was put in place following a previous facial injury.

"I understand schools have rules, but surely a detention would have been enough," Joshua's mother, Kate, of Newton Aycliffe, said.

'Good parents'

"It wasn't done in a malicious way, it was just him and a few of his friends larking around.

"They have effectively given him permission to play in the snow for three days because I can't punish him for throwing a snowball - not when he and his dad were down in the field the night before the incident having fun doing the same.

"Kids don't see snow very often and they are bound to be a bit hyper, so there's nothing I can say. I think it's ridiculous."

However, Stephen Harness, the head of the college, defended his decision, saying the issue was one of disobedience.

"Eight youngsters disobeyed us, and having warned them we did what all good parents would do and backed up what we said, and excluded them," he said.