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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alahna Kindred

School threatens pupils with DETENTION if they don't give £1 to Comic Relief

A school has been forced to apologise after sending an email threatening pupils with detention if they did not donate to Comic Relief.

Parents were informed that children were expected to pay £1 to wear their regular clothes on Red Nose Day.

It added that those who wore casual clothes without donating would be held back after school.

Headteacher Dr Kimberly Elms has since apologised for the "erroneous" message and for causing "undue worry and anxiety" to parents.

The Livingstone Academy in Bournemouth, Dorset, sent a follow-up email saying pupils would be allowed to participate in mufti day and Comic Relief-themed activities without paying.

The academy opened in September 2021 and has 1,750 mixed pupils aged four to 18.

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The school has now said pupils can participate in Comic Relief-themed activities without paying (BNPS)

The original email, which was issued yesterday morning to all parents, reads: "We can confirm that tomorrow is a mufti day, and originally students were asked to pay their £1 donation for this by today.

"We will accept donations tomorrow, however, anyone in mufti who has not donated £1 towards Red Nose Day will be subject to an SLT detention tomorrow after school."

Dr Elms then sent a second email retracting the threat of detention and said they "regretted" the "erroneous" email.

She said: "We at Livingstone Academy Bournemouth are looking forward to celebrating Red Nose Day with lots of fun and raising money for good causes.

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"It is our Student Council that has spent weeks planning an extended lunchtime on Friday with activities and games for prizes.

"It is our students who have elected to have a mufti day and ask for a £1 donation to do so.

"All the money raised is going to Comic Relief and the charities it supports.

"Normal uniform rules apply for students who do not wish to wear mufti.

"All our students, regardless of whether they are in mufti or uniform, will be participating in all the games and activities planned.

"Unfortunately, an erroneous message went out from the office inbox stating children who are in mufti but have not donated will receive an SLT detention.

"This is not true. We have since issued a clarification and apology to our families.

"Livingstone Academy Bournemouth works very hard to be an inclusive and nurturing environment and we regret this initial message may have caused undue worry or anxiety to any of our school community."

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