A mother of four has accused Hextable Primary School of running a “bullying campaign” against children who have low attendance.

Rachel Gregory, 46, has a nine-year-old daughter in Year Four at the school, in Rowhill Road.

On Friday, April 20, Ms Gregory says her daughter was rounded up with children considered to have poor attendance and “segregated” from other pupils.

She told News Shopper that, at temperatures of 27C, the children with good attendance were treated to ice lollies, allowed to watch a one hour film and given toys to play with.

Meanwhile, the children with poor attendance were denied lollies, given maths board games and were offered limited toys to play with.

Ms Gregory also said her daughter was very upset after she had to watch her classmates – and teachers – eat ice lollies in front of her, while she was not allowed to have one.

“I literally had to drag her into school screaming and crying on Monday,” she said.

She added that, although she understands attendance is important, she believes the incentive scheme needs “proper guidelines and proper management.”

“What scares me is where this will go in the future,” she told News Shopper.

Suzie Hall, headteacher at Hextable Primary School, said: “On Friday, April 20, Hextable Primary School held a reward afternoon for all children whose attendance for the school term was above 96 per cent.

“We take into consideration individual circumstances for children with medical conditions. The children were rewarded with games outside on the field and an ice pole.

“The children whose attendance was below 96 per cent continued with normal learning activities and games in the classroom.

“As one class was going outside at play time they saw a member of staff and a few children still finishing their ice poles. We understand this has unfortunately upset a small number of pupils and their families, which was not our intention.

“At Hextable we encourage good attendance as this will often lead to better educational outcomes throughout a pupil’s school career.

“When Ofsted inspectors visited the school in March they praised the incentives we have put in place to improve attendance. We expect the report of that inspection to be published next week.”