Distraught schoolboy banned from disco after dad died

A school barred a five-year-old boy from an end-of-term disco because he missed classes after his father died.

Sean Watson and his seven-year-old sister, Claire, were left distraught because the Christmas party was reserved for pupils with 100 per cent attendance records. Their mother, Samantha, said both children had been looking forward to the treat after their father Michael died from throat cancer last month aged just 46.

Mrs Watson, 35, said she was shocked at the school’s stance. ‘I don’t see why they should be punished for taking just a few days off when he died. I phoned the school and tried to explain, but the admin assistant wouldn’t listen.’



She added she had warned Ryecroft primary school in Bradford that Sean and Claire’s father – who battled cancer for two years – was terminally ill.

Mrs Watson said: ‘They had a couple of days off when their dad passed away and then a couple the week after because of the funeral. I then found out that they were not allowed to go because they had time off. I rang the school office to check this was the case and the woman said ‘‘bereavements count’’.’

Mrs Watson said Sean ‘couldn’t understand why he wasn’t allowed to go’ and was left in the classroom while his friends got to play games and have fun.