Tom Daley moves school after bullying

(GETTY IMAGES)

Olympic diver Tom Daley started at a new school today after his parents said bullying forced the teenager to leave his former college.

The 15-year-old shot to national fame when he was selected for the Beijing Games last year, at the age of 14, and became one of Britain's youngest ever Olympians.

He is expected to challenge for medals at the London Olympics in 2012 and his father Rob Daley said his high profile was causing problems.

In April Tom, from Plymouth, Devon, was taken out of Eggbuckland Community College before the FINA Grand Prix in Florida where he won a gold medal.

He has now enrolled at independent school Plymouth College which boasts a number of national athletes including swimmer Cassie Patten, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Games.

Tom said: "I'm really looking forward to going to Plymouth College and being with other young people who understand the pressures of high-level competition.

"The school has a lot of experience in putting together academic programmes for pupils like me so I won't miss out on my school work when I'm away."

Headmaster Dr Simon Wormleighton said they were "delighted" Tom had joined the college.

He said: "In common with many of our athletes, he has a busy training and competition schedule so we are working on a flexible academic programme to fit in with his various commitments.

"We will help Tom to keep on top of his studies so that he can reach the high academic standards of which he is capable whilst at the same time, fulfilling his extraordinary potential in the pool."

When Tom was taken out of Eggbuckland Community College the school's principal, Katrina Borowski, said she was unaware of any bullying but admitted his "high profile" has led to a minority of students acting in an "immature way towards him".

She said the majority of pupils considered him "a credit" to the college.