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A school has made headlines after deciding to give advent calendars to pupils with more than 96 per cent attendance. Parents were divided over the decision as pupils who have missed too many lessons received nothing, leaving many “in tears”.

The Lindt advent calendars were given to those children who had hit at least 96 per cent attendance at Saint Nathaniel’s Academy, in Burslem, this term, Stoke-on-Trent Live. 

However, pupils who have missed school through sickness were left empty-handed when the chocolate calendars were dished out as the children left their classrooms. Now parents have criticised the school for “discriminating” against boys and girls who were ill this term.

One parent, Carla Needham, expressed her disappointment after her two sons did not receive advent calendars. The 32-year-old said: “A lot of the children came out of the school with an advent calendar in their hands as a reward for their good attendance and a lot of children also came out sobbing because they didn’t have an advent calendar because they’d been off sick.

“There were children from the age of three coming out really upset because their friends had been given an advent calendar – and they’d been poorly so they didn’t get one. This little boy came out and he’d got an advent calendar, but his little sister didn’t and she sobbed her heart out and that’s cruel. It broke my heart.

“They could have done it in a different way. They could have sent a message to parents saying that your child had had good attendance and that there was a gift for them to collect from the office. Instead, they did it in front of the other children and rubbed their faces in it.

“I’ve got two children at the school, they’re seven and eight, and I’d already got them advent calendars at home. But they were still upset that their friends had something and they hadn’t. They’d had time off school but it was because they were poorly. My youngest sat on the floor and had a cry, he just said ‘it’s really nasty’.

“If the children have a sickness bug, they’re not allowed in the school for 48 hours and there are a lot of things going around at this time of year. There’s also Strep A that’s all over the news at the moment, there’s that many bugs and Covid is still around.

“I don’t think the school should discriminate against a child for being poorly. As a church school, they should know that is wrong. There are children out there that won’t have advent calendars this year because times are hard and now the school hasn’t given them one. What’s wrong with a certificate for attendance?”

Stacey Bayley’s nine-year-old son also missed out on an advent calendar. The 37-year-old said: “There were a lot of children coming out of school really upset as they felt they were being punished for not being very well and having time off. My son didn’t get an advent calendar. He had to have a bit of time off due to winter illnesses and an infection in his foot.

“He has an advent calendar at home every year, but just the idea of how many children would have left school that day really upset me and the school just doesn’t seem to care about that. It just wasn’t sitting well with me at all. How could they do that to young kids, especially at this time of year? It’s really wrong.

“They gave them out right in front of everybody and explained to my son that he wasn’t getting one. He sort of held it together, but as soon as he saw my face that was it, he broke down. I could understand if it was unauthorised absences, but my son’s absences had all been when he was genuinely poorly. 

“They were the Lindt advent calendars as well which are not cheap. The school hasn’t taken into consideration that some parents then felt they had to spend the best part of £10 on one advent calendar just so their child felt just as important as the others in their class. Parents are under enough pressure at Christmas with the cost of everything and they don’t need that as well. It did make me really angry, it would any caring parent if your child comes out of school that upset.”

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However, not every parent disagreed with the school’s decision. Mum Gemma Doolan has backed the school’s policy after eight-year-old son Tommy was one of the pupils to receive the gift. The 37-year-old, from Burslem, said: “I thought it was a really nice gesture.

“I was quite surprised because it isn’t a cheap advent calendar and there was a nice slip saying it was for good attendance. Tommy is really, really happy with it and thought it was really nice to be rewarded for his attendance which is something that’s important. I was really happy and surprised when he came out with it. They had been given to children with over 96 per cent attendance, and I don’t think Tommy has had a day off so far this year.”

Although Gemma is pleased for her son, she says she did feel for those children who were left out. She added: “It’s a tricky one because I did notice a couple of children without a calendar and, personally, I did feel for them not getting one because you don’t know their circumstances. They must have had time off for a reason and my children haven’t always hit 96 per cent attendance because they’ve had to have time off for certain things. Last year Tommy wouldn’t have got a calendar.

“I know children can’t help sometimes being off, but it will be an incentive maybe to push themselves to go in to school. I do feel a little bad for the children, but I do think it was a good thing.

“I’ve got one daughter in high school who has to have more time off and it worries me with her because she’s got some medical problems. Tommy will get up some mornings and try to push for a day off. But I’m one of those who’ll still go in to work if I feel a bit ill and I push them to do the same as it’s important for learning. I think it prepares them for working life.

“I always say if I’ve got a sniffle I still have to go to work and I always make sure they know that the teachers are there for them and it creates a good work ethic. I think it’s a good thing for the school to do.”

Principal Rosemarie Patrick says most parents have been supportive of the school. The advent calendars were donated by a local church.

Mrs Patrick said: “Following the Covid-19 pandemic, and in line with the government’s position on raising attendance nationally, one approach we continue to use to promote good attendance is the rewarding of attendance prizes. These are awarded to pupils with 96 per cent and above attendance and the majority of parents have been supportive of this approach to promote good attendance.”

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