South Bristol School Causes Prom Ban Upset
Blanket attendance policies may see the school breaching equality laws
An organisation in Hartcliffe has raised concern about young people in the area being banned from attending their year 11 prom due to school attendance.
Hartcliffe Club For Young People said it is “really concerned” at the number of young people it has affected, calling the school action “punitive.”
Posting on Facebook, the youth organisation said: “We are really concerned about the number of young people telling us they are banned from attending their yr 11 prom because of attendance !!!!
“This is not only punitive but also disproportionate and potentially discriminatory !!! It ignores the real challenges that some young people face in their lives .
“Schools claim to support wellbeing inclusion and mental health while at the same time excluding young people from a once in a lifetime milestone because of attendance figures that often are affected by illness , anxiety, SEND NEEDS , caring responsibilities, or other difficult family or personal situations.
“Areas like BS13 where our kids face so many barriers and lack of opportunities how can schools justify this ?
“PROM IS NOT A REWARD FOR PERFECT BEHAVIOUR ,IT IS A CELEBRATION OF 5 YEARS’ OF HARD WORK, RESILIENCE AND GROWTH AND EVERY CHILD DESERVES THAT MOMENT .
“If this affects your child would you like some support in discussing the decision with the school ?”
The organisation has not disclosed which school has prompted the worry, but E-ACT Merchants’ Academy has been criticised by the families affected on the post.
Merchants’ Academy secondary does not reference its school prom in the current Attendance Policy or Behaviour Policy dated September 2025.
In 2024, families buying prom tickets were warned that the school reserved the right to ‘withdraw’ a child’s place at the prom.
Comments on the Facebook post have come from parents whose children have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send).
Blanket school policies cannot be implemented for all pupils in a school, particularly if a pupil’s attendance is impacted by their disability. This can leave schools with blanket policies open to Disability Discrimination claims at SENDIST.
The school has been fundraising for its prom, collecting money for the event. But, it has not transparently specified to donors how attendance policies are impacting the year 11s wanting to attend.
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