School Bans Dead Girl From Prom For Poor Attendance
MEGAN Gillan’s parents have received a letter from her school saying that Megan must do better and improver her attendance.
The letter is clear:
“…students must have at least 92 per cent attendance and Megan’s is currently 60.4pc”…
Any more of this and Megan will be banned from the school prom (what was once called the school disco).
Macclesfield High will not tolerate truancy. Megan is unwell. Megan died on January 19.
Says Mrs Gillan, Megan’s mother:
“I screamed when I first saw it. If they want her to attend that much I’ll take Megan’s remains. It’s disgusting. Megan doesn’t go to that school anymore. She’s been dead for two months now so it’s not surprising her attendance is low. I was pulling myself together to go back to work, but receiving the letter has just floored me.
“Megan would have loved going to the prom. She planned to go with a group of friends, she was really looking forward to it.”
Deputy head G White. Headteacher Ged Ward explains:
“Clearly that letter should not have gone out. I want to make my apology to Megan’s parents and can only apologise for the distress that it has caused. The letter was sent out to all year 11 parents regarding the school prom. We didn’t think to check it. With hindsight we would have checked all 150 of them. The problem is a software problem.”
Oh?
“Capita has acknowledged to the school that there is a problem with this part of its software and is working to remedy it, because they realise that it could affect other schools. Capita has asked the school to convey their apologies to Mr and Mrs Gillan.”
Phil Neal, managing director of Capita Children’s Services, says:
“What has happened is absolutely tragic and our thoughts are with Megan’s family. Capita Children’s Services supply a software system known as SIMS to Macclesfield High School. Among many other tasks, the software keeps track of pupils’ attendance at the school and the school is able to produce letters to parents based on this information. When a child is no longer attending a school, for whatever reason, the software will allow the school to continue to produce letters to their parents as occasionally it is necessary to do so. It appears that this is what has happened in this case which everyone involved deeply regrets.”
Yes, the computers are to blame.
As Mr Ward said at the time of Megan’s passing:
“Megan was a popular, bright girl, with a promising future ahead of her. She will be missed by everyone. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to her parents and family.”
Missed. And not forgotten, right, Mr Ward…
Next time, check her Bebo page.
Spotter: Manchester Evening News
Posted: 25th, March 2009 | In: Strange But True Comments (6) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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March 26th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
…so whose fault was it then….?
I trust the headmaster (who should be taking responsibility in any case) has had the decency to apologise to the parents in person and not just through the media, as indicated above…?
March 25th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I posted this on another news website about this article:
The school have had many tributes for Megan, including a Tribute Assembly, a Book of Memories, a newsletter dedicated to her and a tree which has been planted in her memory. Mr Ward has done a lot for these tributes to take place, including leading the tribute assembly, and he has offered a lot of support to people within the school affected by Megan’s death. Everyone who has suggested that Mr Ward has in any way intended to cause offence to the family are the ones who are being malicious themselves. Mr Ward has gone to great lengths to show his support following the tragic death of Megan.
To those who have been suggesting that Mr White is to blame - firstly, the letter itself was not threatening or querying the attendance in any way. Every pupil in year 11 received one, even those above the 92% attendance, and the pupose of the letter was not to threat but simply to remind people of the criteria for access to the prom. Secondly, to those people who have said that Mr White hand signed the letter - the letter which my parents received had the signature printed on it, which was exactly the same letter which Megan’s parents received (apart from the name and attendance of course), so it was almost definately mail merged, and was not Mr White’s fault at all for this upsetting letter being sent out.
Megan has been missed by many in our school, and will remain in our memories for a long time to come,
Year 11 pupil from Macclesfield High School.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
There is nothing wrong with SIMS. The database is not all that complicated. It’s the way it cross references and reports on the information it receives that’s the clever bit. The school had probably not told the system that the girl was dead. They probably still haven’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if she got good gcse and a level results as well.
March 25th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
…what ever happened to common sense and brain cells…? I guess they are out of date and unfashionable these days….?
March 25th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
software problems eh? new phrase for moronic prats….
March 25th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Crapita strikes again. God knows why the Government continue to use these companies. Although I do have my own theories about that, of course…..