Fuming mum says 'it's wrong' as daughter, 15, banned from her school prom

A mum has hit out at a secondary school for banning her 15-year-old daughter and other students from attending their prom.

Kayla Massey was heartbroken to learn that her daughter, Faith Robson, was among those denied the chance to join the end-of-year festivities scheduled for July 5 at St James' Park in Newcastle. The 39-year-old from Holy Cross, Wallsend, is of the opinion that every child should have the opportunity to take part in their prom, regardless of past issues, reports Chronicle Live.

Churchill Community College in Wallsend, North Tyneside, informed all Year 11 pupils who have faced suspension since November of the previous year that they would not be welcome at the upcoming event. Nevertheless, the headteacher of the school has stated that the criteria for attending the prom were "clearly communicated" to the students.

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Kayla said: "Throughout the school term, if they've been given a punishment they have already done that punishment. Now they've been re-punished by taking away their prom.

"They only get one prom, it's a celebration of their graduation from school. They can't get that opportunity back. I think it's wrong."

Kayla shared that her daughter Faith was suspended by Churchill Community College for three days in November, following a disagreement with a teacher. She explained that her daughter was unwell at the time but was told that she was not allowed to go home.

The mum-of-two said: "I think if they had been permanently excluded from the school that's understandable because they didn't complete school. But anyone who completed school, whatever problems they had through the school journey, should be entitled to prom.

"She really wants to go to prom, I think all of them do. There's so many kids with different problems and so many parents that are upset. I feel my daughter, and everyone else, has worked hard to graduate school and they've taken it away from them.

"It's been a negative rather than a positive before their exams. They could have boosted them all and gave them something to look forward to!".

Kayla, who is also mum to Deacon, 13, shared: "Just after her mock exams she had a bad day. She had a panic attack and got upset. She had an argument, with a raised voice, with a teacher.

"It was the first time she'd ever had an argument with a teacher. She'd just lost her nanna and her best friend around that time. She was struggling.

"I think it was the pressure of her mocks and losing her best friend and her nanna that's been the trigger."

Kayla claims it was the first time that Faith had ever been suspended from school and she feels as though the losses, which she suffered around the time, were not taken into consideration by the school.

She added: "They wanted to keep her in school. She would have missed two lessons of dance and photography (if she had gone home). The argument resulted in her missing the rest of the week of education on suspension. She was off for the rest of the school week - three days."

Faith is a member of the Army Cadets and has aspirations to study photography at Newcastle College.

Kayla expressed that she had been eagerly awaiting prom and even has found a dress for the occasion. Now, however, she will have to watch as her friends attend while she is unable to.

The mum-of-two added: "If her behaviour had been bad throughout the time and she's had bad grades I could maybe get my head around it. But I still think whatever the kids have achieved they've tried their best."

"We have got a dress that we have paid for. We have shopped for it over the last 12 months. She's been looking forward to it. She's got her hair all planned out and it's devastating for her.

"They're not backing down. They don't care if dresses have been paid for or people have been saving for a long period of time."

Kayla mentioned that she has inquired about the number of children barred from attending the prom, but said the school has not provided her with this information.

The mum also added how a local pub said kids could use a room there for those not invited to the prom to have a different prom. But Kayla said: "I still feel it will divide the kids. They should be able to attend the prom all together."

Kayla revealed she discovered her daughter was barred from the prom in a letter sent by the school last month, admitting she doesn't remember receiving an earlier letter from November detailing the criteria for prom attendance.

Paul Johnson, head teacher at Churchill Community College, explained: "Our annual Year 11 Prom is an evening to celebrate and reward pupils for their hard work, behaviour, and achievements at Churchill."

"As is common practice across many other secondary schools, the behaviour of students has an impact on whether they attend prom.

"The rules around attending prom, and the behaviour expected from pupils in order to attend, were clearly communicated to all parents and carers in November and have been reinforced throughout the academic year."

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