School’s threat to kids for going to funeral

Three grieving children have been warned their school places are in jeapordy because they took time off to attend their grandad’s funeral in Cumbria.

When James Hogg died in Ulverston his grandson Andrew Overend-Hogg, 35, and wife Danielle were determined their three children would attend the funeral.

But after returning home to Sheffield with Teagan, 9, Isla, 5, and three-year-old Elsie-Mae on Friday, they were greeted by a letter from Handsworth’s Ballifield Primary School warning them about an unauthorised absence.

Mr Hogg’s Catholic funeral service stretched over two days on Wednesday and Thursday, meaning the three youngsters missed a week of school.

Mr and Mrs Overend-Hogg said they were “disgusted” by the letter, but school officials said the absence was “unsanctioned” and as a result could even jeopardise their place in the school.

Mr Overend-Hogg, 35, was furious at the school’s reaction to the family’s decision to pay their final respects to his father.

“It wasn’t like this was a holiday,” he said. “But the letter we received was so cold, there wasn’t even any ‘sorry for your loss’.”

New regulations introduced by the Government to crack down on term-time absences means children are allowed leave only in “exceptional circumstances”.

Mrs Overend-Hogg, 31, said: “It’s a disgrace that a school could put Ofsted box-ticking ahead of the feelings of three very upset young children especially so close after the death of the grandad.”

She said she even advised the school in advance that the children would be missing for a week to attend the funeral, but she says she was not told of the new draconian measures.

“When James was getting very ill with the cancer I kept the school informed about what was going on. And when he passed away at the end of March, I did everything within my power to explain they would be missing a week and was under the impression it was fine until we got home and saw the letter.”

The youngsters’ mum went to the school on April 7 to speak with Mrs Hague but was told that only one day off was allowed for funerals. Head teacher Shelia Hagues said the school’s room for manoeuvre was limited due to the new Government rules.

She said: “This hasn’t been logged as unauthorised absence and it won’t attract a fixed penalty. It was a standard letter that was sent out, which is rather black and white, but we followed guidelines which cover all our family of schools in this area.

“We are sorry the family feels upset but we have tried to be flexible, taking into account the previous good attendance records of the children.”