A school girl was reduced to tears after being “banned” from her high school prom “due to a long-standing illness”. Alisha Hoy, 16, was beginning to get excited for her final year celebration this week but was told she was “banned” from the event.
The senior pupil at Airedale Academy in Castleford, has suffered with a bowel illness since she was a child. In pain and unable to get out of bed, Alisha was unable to attend a lot of her final year at school and would stay home to rest, her mum Marian Fitchett explained.
“Because she wasn’t able to go to classes I told the school to send her work home so she could keep up but they never did”, she added. However Marian added that Alisha, was able to sit her exams and complete them at school after “pushing herself”.
Alisha, who lives in Bryram, Selby, was due to attend her prom on Thursday July 7 but was told “under no circumstances” could she attend, her mum claims. Marian said the family got a letter from the academy a week before the prom explaining Alisha could not go, according to Yorkshire Live.
The North Yorkshire resident added that she has been trying to get in touch with the school since, but has “not been able to get a response”. The school pupil was reduced to tears when pictures were shared across social media of Airedale Academy students wearing posh frocks, suits, and walking down a red carpet without her.
Her mum had saved up money to buy her a dress for the event, but Airedale Academy said her bad attendance didn’t warrant enjoying the celebration. Mum Marian, who also has a son and a set of twins at home, said: “My daughter is very upset and I feel the school are discriminating against her for being ill. She has had an illness since she was a child.
“She doesn’t really like to talk about it or share too much but she had to have time off school and was in bed. She was banned from her prom this week. The school are saying she had too much time off school but I provided medical records. It’s disgusting.
“We got a letter from them last week [the week before the prom] saying she could not go and I have been ringing the school this week. The school never helped us through the years with her illness and would never provide work to do at home etc. And now, to do this to a child is disgusting.”
The furious mum-of-four added: “She was crying last night [Thursday July 7], in fact we were both crying. Children who have illnesses already have so much going on in their life this is the last thing she needed.
“This is something she has always looked forward. Things need to change if that is the rules for academy.”
After complaining to Airedale Academy, Marian received a reply which read: “Thank you for your email. I will post out first class to you the letters that were previously circulated regarding prom and the explanations of points.
“Please do get in touch should you require anything further.”
The “banning” comes after parents at another West Yorkshire school were left furious about their children being “banned” from their prom too. Some Year 11 students were unable to attend their prom at Honley High School and watched other classmates dress up for the final year celebration without them.
The prom was held at Cedar Court Hotel on Thursday, June 30, and although hundreds attended, many were left sat at home. A spokesman for the school said “children who have consistently made a positive contribution throughout Year 11 were invited to attend” the prom. This meant a number were left out sparking outrage among parents and pupils alike.
Referencing the incident at Honley, Marian added: “Exactly it is just not fair. I will absolutely not be sending my other children to Airedale Academy.
“It has been the whole time she [Alisha] has been there.” Airedale Academy have been approached for a comment.
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