A DAD has hit out after his son was not allowed to go on a panto trip this Christmas after staying away from school after catching Covid.

Red Hall Primary School in Darlington organises a festive trip to the pantomime each year for children with good attendance, which went ahead on Friday.

Darlington dad Craig Goodenough said he was frustrated that his son, Adam, 11, was being penalised because he did not attend the school after testing for Covid earlier this year, though he did take part in online learning from home.

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Mr Goodenough said: “It’s really frustrating and it’s the principle more than anything else.

“My son is a model pupil, he tries really hard and he’s a bright lad and the only time off he’s had is when he tested positive for Covid following a five day residential school trip in October. About ten of the kids caught Covid on that trip.

“Nobody chooses to get ill.”

Red Hall Primary School confirmed its policy was to organise a trip for children with 99 per cent attendance but added that an additional theatre trip was planned for all pupils this week.

Mr Goodenough said he thought he was doing the responsible thing by not sending Adam to school after testing positive.

He added Adam had logged on from home and took part in online learning. He said: “When I told the school ‘but he was learning, he just wasn’t in the classroom so why has his attendance not been logged?’ I was told he didn’t have to do online learning, that was his choice.

“It’s not like Adam was desperate to go to the panto, we’ll just do something else with him but it’s the principle, why should he miss out just because we didn’t send him in (to school) when he had Covid?”

Julie Davidson, executive headteacher of Red Hall Primary School, said: “A free pantomime trip was offered for children with an attendance rate of 99 per cent or above. This took place last Friday.

“Unfortunately, children whose attendance rate was below 99 per cent – regardless of whether they had been absent with Covid-19 or any other illness – were not eligible for this treat. Covid-19 absences are recorded as sickness absence, in line with government guidance.

“However, we have arranged an additional pantomime trip this week, which all pupils from Year 1 upwards, will be able to enjoy, regardless of their attendance rate. Both theatre visits are provided free of charge to parents/carers as part of our offer here at Red Hall.”

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