Parents have criticised a school for excluding some pupils from attending the leavers prom.
Like most secondary schools, Golborne High School in Wigan is planning a 'graduation ball' for Year 11 students. But not all pupils have been invited to the event and it hasn't gone down well with some of the families.
They claim it's only high achievers who meet the school's standard that are being allowed to attend and anyone who's had time off, even for a genuine reason, has been stopped from going.
Read more: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
One mum contacted the M.E.N to say that her daughter's attendance is just below 90%, but she has not been invited.
"I have spoken to several parents who have explained their child couldn't go because they've had time off due to injury or mental health issues and my daughter is one of them," she said.
"We seem to have found the common problem in the children who aren't invited is lower grades that don't meet their standards, which in itself is completely unfair."
The mum, who did not want to be identified, said she has struggled to get an answer from school about why her child can't attend.
She shared a copy of a message she received from the school, which said: "Thank you for your query about the prom but all decisions are final and the staff will not communicate with you any further on this issue."
The mum said: "No reason was given and I did ask and they refused under any circumstances to give reasons.
"She has never been suspended or sent home for bad behaviour. Her mental health took a huge hit and she was off for around a week, but that's it.
"Over the course of mocks she kept getting told how well she's doing and she's definitely going to get an invite until she didn't. Now they won't give any reason."
Another mum told us her son is in the same position.
"I'm disappointed that all the children have worked hard and only a handful of people are going to the prom," she said.
"The children that are going to the prom are the ones that are doing well at school and don't need extra support."
Some of the parents are now trying to organise their own private prom to make sure everyone has a chance to celebrate, but they claim the school is trying to block their plans for a separate event.
Alison Gormally, headteacher of the school which was rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted earlier this year, said 'the school has no comment to make' on the issue.
The Ofsted report commented on how pupils 'aspire to achieve highly because leaders and staff expect the very best of them'. And it stressed how much support is given to youngsters.
"Pupils benefit from highly supportive relationships with teachers," it said. "This helps pupils to feel happy and safe in school. For example, pupils in Year 11 spoke highly about the help that they had received from staff about looking after their mental health during recent examinations. Leaders deal swiftly and appropriately with any incidents of bullying or hurtful language."
Is your child's school having a prom for Year 11s? Has every pupil been invited? Let us know in the comments.
READ NEXT:
I made the 68p solution declared 'the best weed killer ever' and it worked wonders
Take a look at Butlin's new £2.5m illuminated Skypark with largest ride of its kind
Greater Manchester borough one of top 10 best places to raise a family in the UK
I repeated my Costco shop from six months ago and was staggered by some of the prices
