Student Expelled For Missing Too Many School Days While He Visited Dying Grandad

A boy has been expelled for taking six weeks off school while he visited his dying grandad in Alaska.

Josh Palfrey travelled to the American state with his dad to see grandfather Arthur, 83, who had begged to see his grandson for the last time after doctors diagnosed him with terminal cancer.

The 12-year-old and his dad Scott Palfrey, 52, travelled 6,000 miles from their home in Pheasey, near Birmingham, to visit Arthur on March 26 - the first day of the Easter holidays.

The pair returned to the UK on May 21 after Arthur died days earlier, but were told by Aldridge Barr Beacon School that Josh had been expelled in his absence.

Single dad Mr Palfrey has now slammed the school, accusing them of “punishing” his son for visiting his dying grandfather.

He said: “I feel completely disappointed and let down by the whole system

Disappointed: Mr Palfrey defended his decision to take his son to Alaska (SWNS)

“It’s all percentages and figures and all about money, not about a child’s welfare and education.

"In certain circumstances you should be a bit more flexible. My boss said take as long as you need, it’s your dad, and that’s how I expect people to be treated.

"It’s punishing Josh for seeing his grandad in his dying days and I think that’s totally out of order and wrong.”

Defending his decision to take Josh out of school to visit his grandad, Mr Palfrey added: "It was absolutely priceless for my son to see my dad in his final weeks of being alive.

"Sitting together on the settee, with his grandson, talking about his history in the Navy and his days as a mounted policeman.

"He wasn’t there when Josh was growing up, so it was important my son knew about his life.

"You couldn’t pay for that and I’ve got that in my mind forever now, and Josh will always remember him.”

Not backing down: The school has too by its decision to expel Josh (SWNS)

Straight-A student Josh was officially expelled on May 10 when headteacher Dame Maureen Brennan wrote to Mr Palfrey saying his son had been “removed from the school roll.”

The school defended the expulsion and are standing by their decision.

A spokesperson said: “As a school, we understand the pressures on parents and we send condolences on the loss of loved ones and our best wishes on their family weddings, but we cannot keep places open for children while they are out of the country for more than 20 school days.

"It is not fair on the other children whose parents want them to attend an outstanding school.

"Mr Palfrey understood clearly what would happen and the school spent a long time explaining the consequence of his decision to remove his son from the school before he removed his son from school.”

Top pic: SWNS