Christmas celebrations have been cancelled at a Maidstone primary school after it received a damning Ofsted report.

Parents of children at Barming Primary School were outraged when interim head teacher Andrew Gould decided this year’s Christmas plays would not go ahead because staff needed to concentrate on getting the school out of special measures.

Other extra-curricular activities such as football, swimming, cross country and the annual trip to The Hazlitt Theatre’s pantomime have also been scrapped, although Mr Gould says this happened before he arrived at the school.

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An online petition, started by parents in a bid to persuade Mr Gould to change his mind, had gathered more than 400 signatures by yesterday morning.

In a letter to parents, Mr Gould defended his decision saying: “In order to improve the school’s performance I cannot justify large groups of children missing out on parts of the curriculum and furthermore cannot countenance taking teachers and teaching assistants from their core purpose, which is to teach and support learning.”

In a statement, Mr Gould said other Christmas activities would take place during the final week of the term but staff had not yet agreed on details.

He stressed he was “fully in favour of extra-curricular activities enhancing learning” but wanted pupils to develop skills during lesson time as well.

Lynsey Holmewood, who has a son in year five and a daughter in year two, was among parents who started the petition after finding out from another parent.
She said the Christmas play shock was the final straw.

The 32-year-old play assistant said: “For non-academic children, the Christmas play is where they shine. It gives all the children confidence and they really look forward to it.

“Why are the children being punished for the school’s failings? I understand the school needs to get out of special measures but everything is being taken away.

“I asked the head if there could be a smaller scale Christmas event, like carol singing or something that wouldn’t take so much time out of lessons. He walked away.”

Emily Botten, 31, has daughters in years two and three and, like many parents, had to break the news to her children about the cancelled Christmas play.

The business owner said: “I’m disgusted and the children are upset.

“I’m disgusted and the children are upset" - Emily Botten

"They will be under so much pressure when they get to secondary school that primary school should be about having fun and making happy memories.

“I understand the school got a bad Ofsted report but every day my kids used to go to school smiling.”

The school’s productions were usually based on the traditional Christmas story but with a few twists.

Mr Gould confirmed reception pupils would perform their nativity as usual.

The interim head sent a follow-up statement to the Kent Messenger this morning, which said: "Apart from the online petition, which we believe has been signed by many people with little or no connection to the school, we have had a small number of complaints from parents.

"But we have had a similar number of messages of support from others who appreciate what we are trying to achieve here."