‘Rebel Ball’ after students not invited from an official school event

Some parents in Cornwall with children banned from prom are hosting an alternative end-of-year party.

Parents of Year 11 pupils at Bodmin College received letters on Friday rejecting their children’s invitation to the end-of-year prom due to unsatisfactory attendance.

Many parents criticized the punishment, saying it deprived children of celebrating the end of their GCSEs.

Bodmin College said parents and carers were warned in March and the school prom was a “privilege dependent on good attendance and behaviour”.

About 160 pupils are expected to attend the prom, with 92% attendance, the school said.

Organizers of the so-called Rebel Prom said on the same day that they expected about 150 pupils and parents to gather.

Sam said her daughter was not invited to the prom at the last minute for “trivial reasons”.

“She was devastated, we got the dress, we had her makeup booked,” she said.

“She couldn’t wait to celebrate with her friends, but most of them weren’t invited either.

“She was on the prom committee, but she had behavior points that counted over 10 for things like forgetting equipment, forgetting gym kit.

Sam said she was inundated with responses from parents in a similar position after posting her story on social media.

Along with other parents, she now organizes an alternative Rebel Prom with the youth group Kick Back Street Kids (KBSK), which works with children and families facing financial and social hardship.

Adie Dove from KBSK said: “It was incredible to see the whole Bodmin community and businesses come together to support our young people.

“They gave us balloon arches, prom dresses, food.

“We got a venue by a holiday park and the band and DJs offered to play for free.”

She said some of those who were not invited to the college prom had “challenging backgrounds, so I think they all deserve to celebrate this milestone.”

Mikaela, 16, said almost two years ago, her mother was diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder “and then I had stomach problems, so I went back and forth to the doctors.”

“I said to the teacher, ‘How can you take my ticket to the prom when I’m in a bad way and I’m a young carer for my mum?’

Megan, 16, who was also not invited to the prom, said she was home-schooled and attended classes arranged by the school.

“I did everything they wanted and I just thought what was the point when they just turned around and said you can’t go anyway,” she said.

A spokesman for Bodmin College and Cornwall Education Learning Trust said: “As is normal practice in secondary schools, the prom is a privilege dependent on good attendance and behaviour.

“The vast majority of our pupils have met these requirements and will take part in the event this month.

“However, there are a small number of pupils whose behavior or attendance has not been in line with set expectations and will therefore not be allowed to take part in this opportunity.”

The college said Year 11 pupils, parents and carers were notified of the measures in a letter dated March 4.

“While we understand this may be of concern to some families, we continue to follow school policy and celebrate the hard work and achievements of pupils who meet our high standards and expectations,” the college said.