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Leavers’ ball at top-performing Cults Academy axed after head ‘egged’ by pupils

Cults Academy, at the centre of a cancellation row
The new academy was built in 2009. Image: DC Thomson

Final year pupils at Cults Academy have had their leavers’ ball cancelled for “appalling behaviour”.

The Aberdeen students had been due to celebrate the end of their school days in style with a bash at the city’s Ardoe House Hotel on June 2.

However, head teacher David Barnett has written to parents outlining his decision to cancel the much-anticipated party.

“Extremely upset” pupils had been looking forward to the leavers’ ball after a tough two years of Covid restrictions.

But having paid £40 each to attend the event, students won’t now get the send-off they wanted.

The cancellation follows an alleged incident involving the throwing of eggs.

‘Victorian attitude to managing children’

A parent who spoke to the Press & Journal described the head teacher’s attitude as “Victorian”.

“On the last day of term, there was an assembly for final year students. Afterwards, the students were funnelled out of the school without the chance to say goodbye to the teachers. They were even stopped from taking photographs outside the school.

“There was then some egging, and the head teacher was egged.”

Cults Academy leavers were due to sign off in style at Ardoe House.

The Cults Academy row comes just after the school was named best in the north and north-east in our school league tables.

The parent added: “The pupils aren’t unhappy with the teachers, but they’re very unhappy with the school management team.

“Girls had bought dresses, students had rearranged holidays, they were all looking forward to it.

“Given everything that’s gone on the last two years, they just wanted to say goodbye to each other and to the teachers.

“They’re extremely upset, there are lots of messages going back and forth and many have written to the head teacher. The pupils are now trying to organise a ball themselves.

“It’s a collective punishment for over 100 pupils. That’s a Victorian attitude to managing children. They haven’t handled it very well.”

Decision taken with a ‘heavy heart’

In his letter to parents after the Cults Academy row, Mr Barnett spoke of “the appalling behaviour of a significant minority of our S6 pupils” on the last day of school before exams, on April 22.

He wrote: “Despite those who behaved very badly being given the opportunity to come forward and hopefully redeem the situation, no-one has done so.

“One positive has been that some S6 pupils, whose behaviour was impeccable on the day, have offered to speak with members of the community to apologise for the behaviour of their peers.

“It is therefore with a heavy heart that we have reluctantly decided that the S6 Leavers’ Ball will be cancelled.”

‘A really strong line needed to be taken’

Mr Barnett admitted that this would not be a popular decision, but said he felt it necessary to take strong action.

“In many years as a head teacher, I have often argued that the majority should not suffer because of the actions of a minority.

“However, on this occasion the events were of such a nature that we feel strong action needs to be taken, hence the decision to cancel the Leavers’ Ball.

“The situation was fully discussed at the last meeting of the Parent Council, where several present felt that a really strong line needed to be taken.”

He added: “We feel very sorry that this decision has had to be made. As indicated last week, we remain proud of so many of our S6 pupils. We wish all our S6 pupils all the best for the remainder of exams, and every success in the future.”

Pupils will be refunded the £40 they had paid for the event.

Aberdeen City Council responds

An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman responded to the incident.

She said: “We can confirm reports of events which have impacted on members of the community, staff and pupils, and have regrettably led to the cancellation of the annual leavers’ ball.

“These incidents have been reported to the police and it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

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