Family’s anger as teen is banned from Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive school’s end of year prom

BY CALUM FRASER calum@slpmedia.co.uk

A father says a decision to ban his son from his end-of-year dance is part of a wider vendetta against the family.

Kyle Gordon, 16, was forced to shave when he turned up to St Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive School in Eltham with a “few hairs on his chin”.

This was the first time he had shaved and he cut himself.

His father, Allan Gordon, said: “His face was cut to bits and he had blood down his chin. My wife and I were furious.

He had been humiliated and we were not going to let it go.”

They took their complaints to Greenwich council. The council upheld their complaint saying that “there is evidence to confirm that a professional has behaved in a way that was inappropriate. It caused emotional distress to your son and the child was physically harmed as a result, albeit minor.”

Mr Gordon asked for a face-to-face apology from Markus Ryan, the Headteacher of the Footscray Road school.

The council officer said that she would contact the Mr Ryan for this, but Mr Gordon says he has not received the apology.

Then he was shocked to hear that Kyle had been banned from attending the end-of-year prom.

Mr Gordon, of Selhalmpton Road, said: “I couldn’t believe it.

This is clearly part of a petty vendetta against us.

“Kyle is a quiet, sensitive and hard-working boy. He’s got dyslexia and he needs support for that. He’s not someone who causes trouble.

“He was distraught when he heard that he’d been banned. It’s so cruel.”

Mr Gordon received a letter from Mr Ryan saying that Kyle had been banned because “your son has not participated at all with regard to extra-curricular or other activities”.

Mr Gordon, 64, said: “This is ridiculous. Kyle goes swimming with the school, he plays football and golf.

“We had already bought his prom suit, which cost us about £200. Though it’s annoying to waste the money, my real concern is for my son. “When all his mates were out celebrating the end of term, he was sitting in the house, miserable. It’s not fair.”

A petition to get the school to overturn their decision had reached more than 1,500 signatures. But it was eventually unsuccessful and Kyle had to stay at home.

Mr Gordon said: “I want the head to get over whatever his issues are and apologise to my son.”

We contacted Thomas More Roman Catholic Comprehensive School but did not receive a response by the time we went to press.