A primary school head teacher has defended hand-picking more than 60 pupils to visit Chessington World of Adventures – and leaving the rest behind.

Luton Junior School, in Medway, gave a special end-of-year treat to pupils with 97% attendance and those who had achieved "individual goals".

But Gillian Daly, whose 11-year-old daughter Michaela, missed classes due to illness, said losing out on the theme park trip had ruined her last days of primary school.

Mrs Daly, 48 of Clarence Road, Chatham, said: "I’ve got six children and I would never take one on a treat without the others.

"Michaela said they had all the children in the hall and then called their names out. I thought it was wrong. It should have been a leavers’ outing for the Year 6 children.

"My daughter even went in during the Easter holidays to catch up on her work and she still wasn’t allowed to go."

Eleven-year-old Leon Richardson, who has taken sick days, was also not invited.

His mum Joanne, 42, of Connaught Road, said: "He came home and I said ‘did you have a good day?’. He said ‘no, I’m dumb and it’s not my fault I’m always ill.’

"I understand he hasn’t met his targets but the way they did it upset him."

"it’s not my fault i’m always ill…” – leon richardson, 11

Both parents spoke to new head teacher Davinder Jandu, who took over from Jillian Oliver, about the issue after the trip last Thursday.

Mrs Jandu said in a statement: "At the start of this year we set a challenge to children to try and attend at least 97% of school days and achieve some individual goals and said that those that did would be rewarded.

"This is something that’s been supported by parents. We have also seen school results improve, with our best SAT results for many years."

She added: "The children going left while other pupils were in lessons and returned after the school had finished so that it didn’t disturb the rest of the school.

"We also held a day full of exciting events in school on Friday to celebrate the end of term."