Tom Clarke's science Enemy

Jul 21, 2007, 7:00 GMT

The Enemy frontman Tom Clarke's teacher threatened to ban him from the music room if he didn't do his homework.

The young singer-and-guitarist from Coventry - whose band is currently number one in the UK album charts - was passionate about music, but claims his school discouraged him from pursuing his talent.

Tom told NME magazine: "I remember when my science teacher told me if I didn't do my homework he'd ban from me from the music department. I told him to f**k off and got sent out of class - where's the sense in that?

"Schools are too focused on results and league tables rather than tackling education head on. If someone's good at music or sport, why can't they follow that dream?"

The disillusioned musician was also furious when his career advisor told him to get a job at a local car manufacturer.

He said: "I told her I wanted to do something with music and she said, 'Your English isn't bad, so you could get a job in administration at Jaguar.'

"I was meant to be chuffed with that, know what I mean?"

Bandmate Liam Watts added: "I spoke to my mates afterwards and we'd all be offered various posts within Jaguar. Schools are like mass-production factories - they say 'this lot are earmarked for achievement, they go to university and this lot aren't so they can leave and get s**t jobs.'

"It shouldn't be that way, you're going to get geniuses who never get noticed."

(C) BANG Media International