Mum’s kind-hearted gesture with alternative prom for kids excluded from official school send-off

A MUM came to her son’s rescue when he was not allowed to go to the prom by putting on a night to remember in their own back yard.

Claire Wright’s garden in Thrybergh was transformed to provide an authentic prom night experience, complete with an inflatable pub, bucks fizz for the young guests and pizza to tuck into.

Claire (below) said her son Billy and more than 20 of his classmates at Thrybergh Academy had been told that they couldn’t go to the school’s end-of-Year 11 celebrations, mostly due to late marks or behavioural issues.

She said: “They just sent a text saying he could not go and when I asked why, they said it was due to his attendance.

“It was all late marks.

“He was really upset but I just said to him: ‘Don’t worry I will do a prom for you’ and it just went from there.

“We had 25 kids here on the night and it was the best night ever.”

Claire, of Springfield Drive, hired an inflatable pub and a balloon arch, arranged a disco and had commemorative glasses made up for each student attending.

“We ordered Domino’s Pizza for them and there was bucks fizz and soft drinks,” she said.

Claire added: “They should be able to attend the prom. I just felt like it wasn’t fair.

“For some of them, it was for lateness and for some it was for behaviour reasons, but they were a lovely bunch.

“I wanted Billy to be able to attend a prom it’s something they all look forward to.”

Claire’s event was held on the same night as the official school prom so no child missed out on the chance to dress up and party.

The event cost her £800 to put on, but she said it was worth every penny.

“Every child was saying thank you so much and that it had been the best night ever,” Claire added.

“My daughter leaves school in two years’ time and my niece next year and I feel no child should miss out on going to prom.

“I understand the rules my children live by rules but it’s the last day of school and they should be able to go.

“A lot of parents have said they are going to be emailing the school.”

Mum Jodie Ryalls, whose son was invited to Claire’s alternative prom, said she thought the gesture was “lovely”, adding: “No matter what goes off in school life, just sitting exams is hard enough and every child should spend their last day of school with everyone around them.

“Claire went above and beyond for each and every one of them and I think this needs to be recognised.”