Prom ban: We must keep standards high

EIGHTEEN North Chadderton School students have been banned from their year 11 prom night

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AN OLDHAM head teacher has stood by a decision to bar 18 year 11 students from attending their prom after they failed to meet behaviour, attendance or punctuality criteria.

The Evening Chronicle was contacted by a parent who said her son was told he could not go to his year 11 prom because of the number of times he had been late at North Chadderton School.

Head teacher Joy Clark has confirmed that every year the school sets a list of criteria that pupils must meet in order to attend their end-of-school party.

The "Passport to Prom" scheme - launched by the school - means that between February and April year 11 students must not have an attendance below 95 per cent, must not be late for school more than five times and they must not be late for lessons more than five times.

Also, students must have no more than three C3 sanctions, which are either a third and final verbal warning, an hour's detention, a phone call home or be moved class due to behaviour.

They must also have no attitude to learning grade threes on their report.

It has been confirmed that 18 of the school's 261 students failed to meet the criteria and have been told they cannot attend the prom.

Ms Clark says the "fair" criteria represent the high standards set by the school and this is a way of preparing children for life in the workplace or in higher education.

She said: "In September 2015, all year 11 students were informed that high levels of engagement in the classroom, along with excellent punctuality and attendance were expected throughout the year as a prerequisite to attending the Year 11 prom in July 2016.

"We set the criteria in January (2016) and then wiped the slate clean in February so nobody was at a disadvantage. Some pupils had already broken a number of the rules before January so I think we have been very fair here.

"Students have been continually reminded of these high expectations throughout the term to ensure that they remained on track to meet the criteria.

"All year 11 students were issued with a Passport booklet that clearly stated these criteria and this was communicated to parents in a letter and our Spring Term newsletter.

"We are extremely disappointed that, despite our best efforts, our support for all students, a very small number of our students made some wrong decisions that resulted in them not meeting the criteria and as a result are unable to attend the prom.

"Everyone can be late but one pupil has been late 19 times in that short period.

"If I was late 19 times for work, staff would start to question why they should bother turning up on time.

"It's the same for pupils. Those that have turned up on time and have behaved will start to wonder why they have made the effort if everyone goes to prom anyway.

"We are of the highest standards and expectations and we are trying to prepare these young people for the next step in their lives.

"If we condone poor attendance, attitude or punctuality, I don't think we are doing these young people any service whatsoever."