A school has barred a teenager from going to her year 11 at the end of this month because they think she doesn’t deserve to go. The student’s mum has been left enraged as she blames the school for not supporting her daughter properly. Holly-Jo Memory started at Noel-Baker Academy in Derby in year 10 but has struggled with attendance and behavior. Her mother, Angela Downes, argues her behaviour is the result of serious mental health issues that are out of Holly’s control. She also alleges the school should have supported Holly better and says the school’s ban is “the final nail in the coffin” at the end of a turbulent two-year school career.
Angela told the Derby Telegraph: “I think prom is a major part of ending school life. It’s the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another one.
“Every child should have that entitlement whether their behaviour has been wrong or right. If I’d been given genuine reasons, I’d accept it and work with it. But I think she’s been discriminated against because she’s not attended and not been able to cope with school.”
Holly, 16, is registered with CAMHS (Child & Adults Mental Health Services) and has recently begun working with a Derby-based charity for her vulnerabilities.
She has been diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, emotional dysregulation, and a history of trauma.
Holly also takes medication for these conditions and has previously attended cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Angela blames the school’s alleged lack of duty of care for contributing to her daughter’s attendance issues and disruptive behaviour – the main reasons for the school banning Holly.
One incident leading to exclusion occurred when Holly-Jo resisted being searched by a staff member.
Angela had requested the daily search as a precautionary measure to assess her daughter’s risk level.
However, when the staff did not adhere to her instructions, Holly-Jo reacted negatively.
Angela claims that numerous incidents, some resulting in exclusion and others not, could have been avoided if the circumstances had been handled differently.
She said: “I’m not saying she’s not capable of effing and jeffing but there’s always a reason behind these outbursts. I have been called into school probably three times a day for the past six months. It’s been dreadful. They can’t cope with her but they’re not managing her at all. I’ve been called and asked to come and do their jobs for them.”
Angela had already purchased a prom ticket and a dress for Holly-Jo before being told over the phone that her daughter was banned.
The ticket has been refunded but Angela thinks the school is rude for sending mass emails offering her the chance to buy a dress for Holly-Jo.
Angela suggests that if Holly-Jo’s behavior was seen as a potential risk, arrangements could have been made for a chaperone or special support. However, she claims that no such options have been offered or discussed.
She said: “I’m a reasonable person, I’m a youth worker, and I understand both sides of the fence. But it’s her mental health that has led to these problems. Barring her might just send her over the edge.
“I’m just totally angry about the whole way my daughter’s been treated throughout this school. I’m strong-willed. I will shout this from the rooftops. This is like the final nail in the coffin.”
A spokesperson for Noel-Baker Academy said: “At Noel-Baker Academy we respect, encourage, nurture and push students to be the very best they can be. This means we set high expectations across all aspects of school life, not just our proms, and we expect our students to follow these expectations.
“Our end-of-Year-11 prom is a reward and a privilege. We do our very best to help our students to attend and provide additional support for those students who require it. Staff look forward to welcoming our Year 11 students to the prom, however, we do not comment on individual circumstances.”
