Boy excluded from school disco after taking time off when his dad died

A schoolboy was refused the right to attend an end-of-term disco because he missed some classes after his dad died. Five-year-old Sean Watson and his sister Claire, 7, weren’t allowed to go to the Christmas party because it was reserved for pupils with 100% attendance records.

Mum Samantha said they were forced to take time off school after their dad Michael died from throat cancer last month. “I don’t see why they should be punished for taking just a few days off when he died. I phoned the school and tried to explain, but the woman said bereavements count.”