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Dead girl given truancy warning | Dead girl given truancy warning |
(10 minutes later) | |
The parents of a girl who died suddenly have received a school letter demanding she improves her attendance. | The parents of a girl who died suddenly have received a school letter demanding she improves her attendance. |
Megan Gilan, 15, was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, two months ago. | Megan Gilan, 15, was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, two months ago. |
Her parents Mark and Margaret Gilan say they were "floored" by a Macclesfield High School letter, which threatened to ban Megan from the end of year prom. | Her parents Mark and Margaret Gilan say they were "floored" by a Macclesfield High School letter, which threatened to ban Megan from the end of year prom. |
The school has apologised for the mistake, which they said was down to an error on the computer database. | The school has apologised for the mistake, which they said was down to an error on the computer database. |
She's been dead for two months now so it's not surprising her attendance is low Margaret Gilan | |
The letter, dated 16 March, said "students must have at least 92% attendance and Megan's is currently 60.4%". | |
Mrs Gillan, who works in A&E at Macclesfield Hospital, said: "I screamed when I first saw it. If they want her to attend that much I'll take Megan's remains. It's disgusting. | |
"Megan doesn't go to that school anymore. She's been dead for two months now so it's not surprising her attendance is low. | |
"I was pulling myself together to go back to work, but receiving the letter has just floored me. | |
"Megan would have loved going to the prom. She planned to go with a group of friends, she was really looking forward to it." | |
Cheshire County Council said the school's head teacher Ged Ward has telephoned the family to apologise. | |
Computer problem | |
A spokesman said Capita software SIMS (School Information Management Systems) maintained Megan's details. | |
"Megan's name had been taken off the school roll when she died, and removed from the main school database," the spokeswoman said. | |
"However, unknown to the school, her details had remained in a different part of the computer system and were called up when the school did a mail merge letter to the parents of all Year 11 students about their prom. | |
"The letter called up details of each student's attendance for the whole year to date and because Megan had been on roll in September, she was included. | |
"Capita have asked the school to convey their apologies to Mr and Mrs Gillan." |