'Disheartened' Year 11 pupils who aren't invited to Swindon school proms set to attend alternative event
Hundreds of students across Swindon are missing-out this year
Last updated 31st May 2022
A Swindon woman is organising an alternative prom, earmarked for Year 11 students who aren't invited to their official school events.
Abbey Park School has excluded pupils who failed to achieve 96% attendance during their final exam year.
After learning about the teenagers who missed-out, Sandy Jonsson proposed to arrange a substitute social. The writer, from North Swindon, has told Greatest Hits Radio the timing of Abbey Park's announcement was problematic - and sprung her into action.
"A lot of parents, the thing that they are most annoyed about is the fact that the news wasn't delayed until after the GCSEs ... that's really disheartening for some children.
"They were counting on going to their prom. To find out just a few days before the GCSEs start, that they aren't going to their own prom, some children have responded really badly to that," she said.
'Lower attendance than usual because of the pandemic'
Whilst recognising that schools must encourage pupils to engage with their studies during Year 11, Sandy believes education bosses should have shown greater "flexibility" when assessing prom invitees.
"There will be children who have got lower attendance than usual because of the pandemic, because of mental health, because of anxiety, because their parents might be key workers ... because they might be shielding as they've got grandparents (at home).
"The rules are still quite rigid, they are not flexible to take into consideration any mitigating circumstances," she added.
'We set our pupils challenging, but achievable targets'
Despite the criticism, Abbey Park's Principal told us he has indeed "considered individual circumstances," when deciding who can go to prom.
Jon Young also says pupils have been aware of the 96% threshold since September 2021, describing Year 11 as "very important" for students.
"We set our pupils challenging, but achievable targets, however we have been mindful of the impact of COVID-19 and have excluded COVID-19 absences from the attendance calculations.
"96% attendance is the target we have set in previous years and equates to a child missing over 7 days of school in their final exam year, important teaching time given how much their schooling has been impacted due to the pandemic.
"We are proud very of our students in how they have adapted throughout their GCSE courses and we wish them the very best in their exams," he added.
'All we have asked for is a positive attitude to learning'
Dorcan Academy has also opted not to invite a selection of pupils. Rather than using attendance or attainment as its yardstick, the school is instead excluding students who fail to "engage" with their studies.
The Academy insists its selection process is "fair" and "gives everyone the opportunity to attend (prom), if they choose to arrive at lessons ready to learn".
Head Teacher Sherryl Bareham said: "We always have a criteria for attending the prom every year because our staff give up their own time to organise and supervise it. We want everyone to go to the prom and that is why we set out our criteria at the earliest opportunity.
"All we have asked for is that students have a positive attitude to learning in their lessons. Where students have a poor attitude and don’t engage in their learning, we feel that they don’t deserve to attend a prom run by those same staff.
"We stagger the issuing of tickets to give everyone a chance to improve and show that they want to work hard, so those students that always work hard received their tickets a while ago".
A final decision on the remainder of Dorcan Academy's students will be made during May half-term.
'None of the teachers had to live through a pandemic, as a child'
Given the turbulent nature of learning throughout various COVID lockdowns, Sandy wants children - who are considered to have shown a "poor attitude" - to be shown empathy.
"This is the first time in history that we've had children that are learning at home, in isolation.
"I don't think you can use ordinary measuring statistics, in that situation. None of the teachers who are making the comments have had to live through a pandemic, as a child," she added.
Once Sandy's plans for an alternative prom are confirmed, an estimated 100 students will attend. Her event is set to take place in August.