Schoolgirl with autism banned from Priestlands prom for not having enough good behaviour points as mum blames lack of support

A schoolgirl was banned from her prom for not gaining enough behaviour points, with her mum blaming the school’s “lack of support” surrounding her autism.

Tiana Light (16) was diagnosed last year, and mum Corrine said Priestlands in Lymington school had “given her little, or no support” to help her cope with studying.

She said: “As a result Tiana has found school overwhelming at times, and when she gets like that it makes her ill. She gets a really sore throat and has to take time off.

“It was after a bout of illness that we were told Tiana could not go to the prom as she had had too much time off school.

“I could understand it if she had shouted or sworn at staff or a pupil. Or done something worse, but the ban has nothing to do with bad behaviour, or being disruptive as she hasn’t been.

“It’s down to the school not helping her deal with her condition, and as a result she has struggled with going to it. Tiana is devastated.

“She has dreamed of going to prom since she was a little girl. I think what the school has done is appalling and so unfair. “

Corrine said there had been “no allowances” made for her autism: “Instead she is expected to behave and attend school exactly like a pupil without it. It is an unfair situation.”

The prom was held at Elmer’s Court in Lymington on Wednesday evening.

Corrine, who used to work in a school, revealed that she had already bought Tiana a £400 prom dress last year. She said: “It was an incentive as I know she struggles with learning, and it was something to help keep her going. She was so looking forward to wearing it and having all her hair and makeup done.”

The mum said that the good-behaviour points had been introduced last October. She said: “After being diagnosed Tiana has a reduced timetable, which means she only goes in for maths, English and science. On one of the other days, she works at a school with young children. That school is so pleased with her they have already offered her a job.”

Corrine said she has made an official complaint to Priestlands headteacher Peter Main and to the board of governors.

She said: “After word got round about Tiana I have been contacted by the parents of other SEN children who have also been banned from the prom. You can’t expect these children to be the same as others, and judged the same as them.

“It is so sad for these teenagers to lose out on what should be a wonderful experience for them and part of growing up.”

In a statement Peter Main said: “The prom is very much an end-of-year school celebration which is an earned reward and is not a standalone event.

“All our students start the year with the same number of ‘prom points’ and all initially qualify for the prom because we want everyone to have the opportunity to attend.

“Each student needs to achieve acceptable levels of attendance and behaviour through the year and students gain points for positive actions and lose points where expectations are not met.

“We have invested a huge amount of time, energy and effort in supporting all our Year 11 students, especially those with special educational needs.

“Only one parent has raised concerns, which we regret, but we have communicated with them throughout the year and maintain that we have done everything we can to provide individual support.

“We have rules in place and we have to be fair and consistent to all the other students who worked hard to qualify for an invitation as well as those who did not.”