'You can't come to the prom, you've had too much time off', school tells girl suffering 'depression over stepfather's cancer'

The sixteen year old Hayley from Manchester is excluded from her school prom because the headmaster says that she had too much time off. Hayley suffered anxiety and depression because her beloved stepfather was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. The headmaster would not accept that Hayley could be affected by her stepfather’s cancer. Hayley is very upset and embarrassed that she can’t go to the prom, especially because she only has A’s and B’s in her exams. Her stepfather had chemotherapy and he had an operation to remove the remaining cancer. Hayley saw that he was in a lot of pain and could not handle this very well. She had an attendance of 66%, so the school did not allow her to go to prom. Hayley says: 'I'm just glad my step-dad is getting better. I'm sad I didn't get to go to my prom, especially as I'm a good student, but I'm overjoyed to still have my family. That's the most important thing.' 

Reaction: I think it is absurd that Hayley could not go to the school prom. Her stepfather was very ill, so she suffered enough. First they hear that he is not going to make it, but then they get the news that her stepfather is finally getting better. Hayley has finally something to look forward to, which is prom. I think it is not fair to punish a girl who has been through a lot. She had good grades so I do not understand why they did not let her go to prom. She could see her friends there and feel like a teenager again.

Source:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2011367/Schoolgirl-barred-prom-took-time-school-depression.html