AJ 9
Detention
Straight-A schoolgirl, 16, given detention for missing half an hour of lessons for emergency appointment with her GP
- Courtney Brain left Skegness Academy to visited her GP for treatment
- She was later told to make up missed time for 'unauthorised absence'
- Mother criticises move to punish daughter with 98% attendance record
- School claims detention was to give her best chance of good grades
Appointment: Courtney Brain, 16, was taken out of lessons when she visited her GP for treatment
A straight-A schoolgirl was given a detention for missing half an hour of lessons for an emergency appointment with her GP, her mother claimed today.
Courtney Brain, 16, was taken out of school at Skegness Academy when she visited her GP for treatment for a water infection.
But she was stunned upon her return to class in Lincolnshire to be told she must make up the missed time for the ‘unauthorised absence’.
Her mother Jane Burnham, 50, criticised the ‘mind-boggling’ decision last Wednesday to punish Courtney - who she claimed has a 98 per cent attendance record - and accused the school of being ‘petty and unreasonable'.
Mrs Burnham, who runs a hotel
in the town, said: ‘I was gobsmacked. My daughter has never been in trouble before. She is expected to get straight A*s in her exams and helps out after school with extracurricular activities.
'She is not a problem child, she works hard and this was the only appointment I could get. Trying to see your GP around here can be a nightmare and I’ll always try and get an appointment after school. But on this occasion she couldn’t, so you take it when you can.
'She was only out of lessons for half an hour. It wasn’t like she was round the back of the bike sheds having a cigarette or going on a shopping spree. Then it would be different.
'She had a water infection for which she needed antibiotics - and I find the decision to give her detention mind-boggling.
Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3050756/Straight-schoolgirl-16-given-detention-missing-half-hour-lessons-emergency-appointment-GP.html#ixzz3Y4eEypbZ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
