Disruptive pupils will be barred from prom

7:49am Thursday 22nd May 2008

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UNRULY pupils who wreak havoc on their last day at a Worcester school will be barred from its annual prom, the headteacher has warned.

In the past, pupils at Elgar Technology College have caused disruption by throwing eggs and arriving drunk.

But Andrew Grace, who joined the school earlier this year, said he would not accept such behaviour.

He said: "I will not tolerate any egg-throwing or pupils turning up drunk. Any silliness and I will reserve the right for those youngsters not to go to the prom."

A temporary stop was put on the sale of prom tickets this week after 46 year 11 pupils walked out of the school on Monday following their first GCSE exam, despite the fact that they were still timetabled for lessons that day.

However, Mr Grace has assured parents that the prom will go ahead at the Bank House, Bransford, on Friday, June 20, as planned.

He said: "This was truancy, and until I had the opportunity to speak to those involved, I put a stop to prom tickets.

"But I do realise many parents spend a lot of money on the prom and there is no way I would put that at risk."

Traditionally pupils would have marked their final day at the school tomorrow and would have returned only to sit their exams. However, Mr Grace has introduced a new system, designed to help pupils through their exams, which means they will still be required to attend school to take advantage of revision sessions and the school's facilities.

Mr Grace said: "I know this has been unpopular with some parents, although the majority have been supportive. But I think it is for the best for the pupils and is what I did at my previous school, where it worked very well.

"Many parents pay for their children to have extra revision sessions after finishing school, but we are offering that free of charge."

Mr Grace said the school would provide an opportunity for students to sign leaving books, take photographs and say a fond farewell to their peers after the exams.

He said: "I am not a killjoy and I understand that pupils want to mark their last day of school.

"But what I will not accept is disruptive behaviour."