‘Rebel prom’ after pupils uninvited from official school event

Some parents in Cornwall with children banned from their school prom are holding an alternative end of year party.

Parents of Year 11 pupils at Bodmin College received letters uninviting their children from their end of year school prom on Friday because of unsatisfactory attendance.

Many parents criticised the punishment, saying it deprived children from celebrating the end of their GCSEs.

Bodmin College said parents and carers had been warned in March, and the school prom was “a privilege dependent on good attendance and behaviour”.

The school prom is expected to see about 160 pupils who have met 92% attendance, said the school.

Organisers of the so-called Rebel Prom on the same day said they expected to see about 150 pupils and parents.

Sam said her daughter was uninvited from the prom at the last minute for “trivial reasons”.

“She was devastated, we had got the dress, we had her make-up booked,” she said.

“She couldn’t wait to celebrate with her friends but most of them were uninvited too.

“She was on the prom committee, but she had behaviour points which counted over 10 for things, such as forgetting her equipment, forgetting her PE kit.”

Sam said she had been inundated with responses from parents in a similar position after posting her story on social media.

She and other parents are now organising the alternative Rebel Prom with the youth group Kick Back Street Kids (KBSK), which works with children and families struggling with financial and social deprivation.

Adie Dove, of KBSK, said: “It’s been incredible to see how the whole community of Bodmin and businesses have come together to support our young people.

“We’ve been donated balloon arches, prom dresses, food.

“We’ve been given a venue by a holiday park, and a band and DJs have offered to play for free.”

She said some of those who had been uninvited from the college prom had “challenging backgrounds so I think they all deserve to celebrate this milestone”.

Mikaela, 16, said nearly two years ago her mother had been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder “and then I developed stomach problems, so I was going to and fro and to the doctors”.

“I said to the teacher: ‘How can you take away my prom ticket when I’ve been poorly and I am a young carer for my mum?'”

Megan, 16, who was also uninvited to the prom, said she had been home learning and had attended the classes agreed by the school.

“I did everything they wanted and I just thought what was the point if they were just going to turn around and say you can’t go anyway,” she said.

A spokesperson for Bodmin College and Cornwall Education Learning Trust said: “As is usual practice in secondary schools, the school prom is a privilege dependent on good attendance and behaviour.

“The vast majority of our pupils have met these requirements and will be attending the event later this month.

“However, there are a small number of pupils whose behaviour or attendance was not in line with the expectations set and therefore will not be permitted to join the occasion.”

The college said Year 11 pupils, parents and carers had been warned about the measures by letter on 4 March.

“While we understand this may be upsetting for some families, we continue to follow school policies and celebrate the hard work and achievements of pupils who have upheld our high standards and expectations,” the college said.