School's 'discriminatory' prom rule sparks outrage from parents

Pupils have to 'qualify' for tickets, and it's based on attendance and behaviour points – with parents calling for a re-think

A school's leavers prom invitations have created a huge backlash from pupils and parents.

Shoreham Academy in West Sussex has a controversial method for deciding who is and who isn't allowed to the year 11 prom.

Instead of the traditional approach, where all pupils who pay for a ticket are allowed to go, students instead have to 'qualify' for tickets.

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Based on attendance and behaviour

The school has a tiered system which is based on attendance and behaviour, branding prom as a 'reward trip' for those who fall into certain tiers.

If year 11 students are placed in the top tier, this means they will have already secured their spot for the event in July.

However, for students in tiers two and three, qualification for a ticket is required.

Although the school has used this method for several years, it's caused a stir this year.

'Bullying and guilt'

Some parents were left concerned that their kids wouldn't be able to get tickets for the event due to its capacity of only 250 people, which couldn't hold all year 11 students.

A concerned mum, who already spent £300 on a dress for her daughter, questioned the fairness of the system.

She said her daughter has 'already seen pictures of people in tier one sharing photos online knowing that she might not get to go at all.'

'It's not right,' she added.

The mum added that was worried about the impact on students with special educational needs or health-related absences.

The ticket system could expose them to 'bullying and guilt', she argued.

'They are being penalised, making life even more difficult for them and their friendship groups.

'It makes an easy target to their peers for bullying. Prom should be a celebration of pupils' time at school having finished.

'They've completed it. The school will say the tiers are to encourage good attendance in the last part of the year, but shouldn't the school just wish them well on to a positive future no matter the issues they faced?'

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'Action plans to secure tickets'

In response, Shoreham Academy has defended the move, explaining that each student has an 'action plan' to secure their ticket.

United Learning, the organisation that runs Shoreham Academy, clarified the event is considered a 'reward trip' aimed 'to recognise the effort, attendance and resilience of these students'.

It said: 'The process for allocating places is exactly the same as it has been over the past five years at the academy.'

The school went on to add that it has approached cases differently where the child has specific needs, as not to discriminate.

'No student misses out through no fault of their own'

Speaking about the allegation of discrimination, United Learning stated: 'The school does not believe that this is the case.

'No student misses out through no fault of their own.'

The school also offers to help out any student who wanted to attend but faced financial challenges.

Despite the controversy, the academy claims there has been 'overwhelming support of the students and parents' over the years for how the reward trip has been awarded and managed.

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