A primary school was slammed today for allegedly cancelling a Christmas party for pupils because they missed their attendance target by 0.6 per cent.
Tredegar Park Primary School in Newport, South Wales, faced fury after telling parents in a letter yesterday that it ‘cannot go ahead with the parties in school’.
Staff were accused of ‘typical public sector nonsense’ and being ‘mean and despicable’, while one Twitter user asked: ‘Is the head of the school Scrooge?’
Tredegar Park Primary School in Newport, South Wales, faced fury after telling parents in a letter yesterday that it ‘cannot go ahead with the parties in school’
Tredegar Park Primary School (pictured) said pupils would not receive a series of ‘additional treats’ that had been agreed if they had hit the attendance target
The school posted this picture on Twitter this morning of their Christmas play called ‘Lights, Camel, Action’, adding that all the children from years three and four were ‘amazing’
A letter sent to parents yesterday said: ‘We have checked our attendance this afternoon and we have managed to reach 94.4 per cent.
‘This is a great effort by everyone, however as we have not met our 95 per cent target, we cannot go ahead with the parties in school tomorrow.
‘Don’t panic, we will make the last two days of term as fantastic and fun as possible for our terrific children at Tredegar Park Primary.’
A picture of the letter was widely circulated after being tweeted by a Kent-based police officer known as ‘Nathan Constable’, who said: ‘What in the hell is this?!’
One Twitter user called ‘Crime Warror’ replied: ‘Wow. Let’s penalise all those over 95 per cent and those who were genuinely too ill to attend.’
Another, Ian Whitehead, added: ‘Lost for words. Typical public sector nonsense. Are people blind to this rubbish or too weak to stand up and do the right thing?’
And Paul Cole tweeted: ‘Be interesting to know if the school set out the consequences of failing to reach the ‘target’ at the start of the school year. Is the head of the school Scrooge?’
But Tredegar Park Primary School claimed today that its Christmas parties were still taking place today and tomorrow for all pupils.
However it added that pupils would not receive a series of ‘additional treats’ that had been agreed if they had hit the attendance target.
Headmistress Jenny Thomas said: ‘Tredegar Park Primary School would like to make it clear that Christmas parties are taking place today and tomorrow for all pupils.
‘Christmas is an important part of life at Tredegar Park Primary School and the children have had a brilliant fortnight to end the term which has included plays, concerts, a visit from Santa and a Christmas fair – where pupils enjoyed throwing snowballs at me.
‘Each year we speak to the junior-aged children about fun challenges to raise rates of attendance and agree on additional treats if the target is exceeded.
‘Children and parents are made aware these are on top of the normal celebrations.
‘This term, as we just failed to reach the target, they will not receive these extra treats but the usual Christmas parties are going ahead.
‘After we sent the letter home to parents yesterday we realised it was misleading so we have sent a clarification.
‘We apologise for the misunderstanding but it is disappointing that some people have resorted to social media instead of discussing this with the school.
‘We are looking forward to a fun and festive final two days of term and hope that the negativity does not overshadow what is a special time.’
It comes after a primary school in nearby Cardiff embroiled in a Christmas concert row cancelled a second performance over safety fears after parents tried to confront the headmistress and demanded she was sacked.
Families stormed Windsor Clive Primary School in the Ely area of the city, after devastated pupils were allegedly rebuked for their poor theatrical performances.
Such was the uproar at the school, that headmistress Vicky Meadows cancelled Monday’s second showing of the play. Police were called after furious parents protested over claims children were told they were ‘absolutely rubbish’ in the play.
** Have you got a story about a nightmare nativity or Christmas party at your child’s school? Please email: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk **