Strange As Primary School Bans 10-Year-Old Girl From Going To Her Grandfather's Funeral , Fined Her Parents £1,000

The Dead man Michael Paul, who died at age 76

 Gaynor and Leigh Hodge, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, had their request to take their daughter Demi, 10, out of school for her grandfather's funeral refused

Demi Hodge, 10, wanted to attend the funeral of her grandad, Michael Paul

• Hansbury Farm Primary School, Tamworth, refused the request for days off
• Parents Gaynor and Leigh Hodge were also threatened with £1,000 fine
• The school has apologized 'unreservedly' for the 'genuine mistake'
•  

By Steph Cockroft

A 10-year-old girl was refused time off school to attend her grandfather's funeral because the reasons for her absence did not amount to 'exceptional circumstances'.

Gaynor Hodge, 39, and her husband Leigh, 41, from Tamworth, sent a leave of absence form to Hansbury Farm Primary School, Tamworth, asking for their daughter Demi to be allowed two days off during term time so she could attend the service. 

Michael Paul, 76, Mrs Hodge's father, had died on April 30 and his funeral was being held in Watford.

But the day before the funeral, the couple - who had sent the form one week earlier - received a letter from headmaster Peter Hollis refusing the request.

In the letter, Mr Hollis said the reasons for the request did not amount to 'exceptional circumstances'.

He also warned the couple they could face a £1,000 fine if they took Demi out of school.

Mrs Hodge, a nursing home chef, said: 'We were gobsmacked. I had just lost my father and then I got home the day before we were due to travel down for the funeral and found this out.

'They warned me and Leigh that we would be fined for taking her out of school, I was absolutely furious.

'It's Demi's grandad - they were basically telling me I couldn't go to my dad's funeral because I have to take her to school.

'I was disgusted and appalled by it - I was heartbroken enough as it was.'

Mrs Hodge said she could not talk to the school about the refusal because it was closed for the day.

She said: 'I just didn't know what to do. It was an added stress on what was already a very stressful and upsetting time in our lives.'

Mr and Mrs Hodge decided to risk the fine and take Demi to the funeral. 

It was only once they contacted the school to see if they would be punished that Mr and Mrs Hodge were told the refusal had been a mistake.

The school told Mrs Hodge that the headmaster had not read the letter properly and did not know the request related to a funeral.

Mrs Hodge said: 'It was only then we found out it was a mistake - but the damage had already been done.

'The headteacher hadn't read the form properly and thought it was for a holiday. They are teaching children to read properly and they can't even do it themselves.

'I even gave them one week's notice and didn't hear back until the day before she was due to be taken out of lessons.'

Mr Hodge, a warehouse worker, said: 'Demi needed the extra day off because we were back late after travelling for hours.

We were going to the funeral and that was the end of it. Gaynor glanced at the form the night before and was in total shock.

'It was too late to contact the school and we travelled down to Watford on the day of the funeral.'

Demi, a year five pupil, was always close to her grandfather - who she called ga-ga.

She said: 'It was a happy day for ga-ga - but a sad one, too.'

Mr Hollis apologised to the family for what he said was a 'genuine mistake'.

He said: 'First of all, I apologise unreservedly for not agreeing to the request. I mistakenly thought it was a request for holiday not compassionate leave.

'I have discussed this with my office staff and we have reviewed our procedures to make sure this mistake does not happen again.

'However, the blame rests with me ultimately.'

Mr Hollis said he did not see the second sheet stapled to the form, which gave details about Demi's granfather's funeral.

He added: 'The additional paperwork which forms part of this process was stapled on and covered the request. I didn't look at the second sheet and that's where the mistake lies.

'It was a genuine mistake on my part and I am meeting with the family to discuss how these events unfolded.'

 Peter Hollis, headmaster at Hanbury's Farm Community Primary School, apologised 'unreservedly' for the refusal, which he said was a 'genuine mistake'

Courtesy Daily Mail