The principal of a school has defended the decision to exclude a student from his graduation ball.
North Durham Academy student Aimee Wilkinson is said to have cried when she was told she would not be allowed to attend the school’s graduation dance along with her 11-year-old classmates. Her grandmother, Gail Wilkinson, said the family had become aware of the school’s decision via a school voicemail Monday afternoon, just two days before the event.
He added that three weeks ago he paid £ 35 for a ticket for Aimee to go to the prom, believing he would be allowed to attend. And now her 15-year-old granddaughter will never be able to wear her stunning blue baby party dress, which cost £ 495 as well as £ 50 for modifications.
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Gail, of West Pelton, said: “We know Aimee wasn’t an angel, we’re aware she’s had problems in school before. She may be a little talkative, but she’s very affectionate and affectionate and would help anyone.
“She had been late to school before and then she came to live with me and she has really tried to go to school and stay in that time and she has put a lot of effort into her exams.
Aimee Wilkinson Party Dress (Image: Brochure)
“I’m not normally complaining, but I don’t understand why the school took the entrance money three weeks ago and then waited up to two days before to let us know. They also let the good kids get their free ticket, but if they had been “naughty” they would have had to pay for the ticket “.
Gail said she visited the school on Tuesday afternoon to ask staff why Aimee had been excluded from the dance two days before the event. He added that a staff member told him that Aimee did not meet the criteria in November and March and the ticket will be returned to him.
Gail claimed that a school staff member told her on Tuesday that Aimee had been told about six weeks ago that she was not allowed to go to the prom. She added, “Why wouldn’t the school send it in writing if they had said that? You wouldn’t say that to a student. I know that if I asked Aimee I would say they hadn’t said it.”
North Durham Academy said 11-year-olds had been reminded of the criteria students had to meet to attend the prom at various times throughout the year. School principal Mark Gray said students had to meet four criteria: attendance at school, attendance at extracurricular review sessions, effort in lessons, and behavior, which Aimee had failed to achieve.
But Gail explained that in addition to her granddaughter being devastated by being excluded from the prom, she has also been left with almost £ 1,000 out of her pocket as she will not be able to return the dress and has already paid the costs. extras, including hair, makeup treatments, nails and tanning, as well as shoes, jewelry, a bag and bespoke decorations for Aimee’s mother’s car, which Aimee and her friend were thinking of to get to the graduation party.
Gail, 57, added: “I have health issues, but I’ve been working harder to get her the dress and everything she needed so she could go to the prom. I now have a dress hanging in the house that’s worth the 500 pounds, which is useless. “
In an attempt to get answers and ask the school to reconsider the decision, Aimee’s mother and grandfather made another visit to the school on Wednesday to meet with Mr. Gray. He explained that Aimee did not meet the criteria and would not be allowed to attend the prom.
Mr Gray told ChronicleLive: “I just met with Aimee’s mother and grandfather about the decision not to allow Aimee to go to the Prom this year and I explained to them the reasons for the decision. he acknowledged the reasons and said he understood them, but just wanted to ask if I would reconsider.
“I explained that Aimee was unable to attend the Prom this year because she had not met any of the criteria shared with all Y11 students at the beginning of the course. Then I explained that the students had remembered the criteria on a number of occasions at the throughout the year in assembly and through conversations with staff members and that I had checked attendance at assemblies to make sure Aimee had been present and therefore would have received the information.
“I also explained that the students who had met all the criteria had the ticket paid for, which I think is a lovely gesture to acknowledge the many students who have hit it off during their stay at Y11.
“While the mother and grandparents were not happy with the outcome, I am firmly pleased that they had thoroughly investigated Aimee’s case before taking it, which was a very difficult decision.”
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