Inverclyde school cancels bouncy castle event after backlash from parents over attendance

A school in Inverclyde has cancelled a bouncy castle event after backlash from parents over an attendance row.

Newark Primary School in Port Glasgow wrote to parents informing them of the event, which was to be seen as a reward for pupils with good attendance.

It was intended for pupils with above 95% attendance or those with the greatest improvement in attendance by March 26 – the date when the bouncy castle had been booked.

Despite describing it as an “incentive”, the school received backlash from parents about the event, who said there is an underlying “crisis” with attendance.

Newark primary school in Port Glasgow Google Maps

Newark’s Headteacher, Lauren O’Hagan, said it wasn’t the school’s “usual incentive” but that staff had considered it a “motivator” before it caused upset.

A statement read: “We recently shared some information about a proposed celebration for attendance and belonging at Newark Primary.

“We understand that this has caused upset amongst some parents from social media posts and communication that has been shared, so would like to take a moment to explain the decision and reassure you that there was never any intention to upset anyone.

“Pupil voice is at the heart of the decision-making at Newark, and as a result, we had booked the inflatables for the Term 3 House treat for the children. We could have the hire for the whole day for a small amount more, so had thought we could use this to recognise two different types of success as well.

“Firstly, we hoped to celebrate those children who maintain high attendance, usually above 95%. We know this takes a lot of effort from families and very often, good fortune in terms of health. These children provide a wonderful sense of stability to our school community.

“At the same time, we believe it is just as important to recognise improved attendance and the commitment that our children and parents dedicate to working together with the school.

“For example, if a child’s attendance has been at 65% and they manage to increase to 67%, that is a significant personal win. It shows resilience, effort and a commitment to being part of our school.

“We want those children to feel that their hard work is seen and to share in the enjoyment and celebrations alongside their peers. By doing this, we are making sure that no matter what a child’s journey looks like, their effort is recognised.”

She added: “As a school that understands the impact additional support needs and mental health can have on families, we know that a child’s attendance in school is often outwith their control, so we have developed a person-centred approach to maximising attendance over the past three years.

“We work alongside families to support attendance, address barriers and to support them alongside our partner agencies.

“This type of incentive is not our usual, however, we had considered it a motivator on this particular occasion. We know that our families care deeply about their children’s education. We value your input and understand that this proposal has not been received well by our parents, and for that, we apologise.

“That was never our intention. We pride ourselves on our relationships and removing barriers to engagement, so do not wish for this to negatively impact these. As a result of the feedback we have received, the event as proposed in the letter sent out will not now go ahead.”

A spokesperson for Inverclyde Council added: “All schools in Inverclyde pride themselves on building strong relationships with parents and carers and creating a strong school community to support all our young people.

“This work will continue, alongside the meaningful, person-centred approach we take to address any issues with pupil attendance.”