This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/7963081.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Dead girl given truancy warning | Dead girl given truancy warning |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| The parents of a girl who died suddenly have received a school letter demanding she improve her attendance. | The parents of a girl who died suddenly have received a school letter demanding she improve her attendance. |
| Megan Gillan, 15, was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, two months ago. | Megan Gillan, 15, was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, two months ago. |
| Her parents say they were "floored" by a Macclesfield High School letter, which threatened to ban Megan from the end of year prom. | Her parents 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 Gillan | She's been dead for two months now so it's not surprising her attendance is low Margaret Gillan |
| The letter, dated 16 March, said "students must have at least 92% attendance and Megan's is currently 60.4%". | 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. | 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 any more. She's been dead for two months now so it's not surprising her attendance is low. | "Megan doesn't go to that school any more. 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. | "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." | "Megan would have loved going to the prom. She planned to go with a group of friends, she was really looking forward to it." |
| Computer problem | Computer problem |
| Cheshire County Council said the school's head teacher Ged Ward has telephoned the family to apologise. | Cheshire County Council said the school's head teacher Ged Ward has telephoned the family to apologise. |
| A spokesman said Capita software SIMS (School Information Management Systems) maintained Megan's details. | A spokesman said Capita software SIMS (School Information Management Systems) maintained Megan's details. |
| Megan Gillan was found dead in her bedroom | Megan Gillan was found dead in her bedroom |
| "Megan's name had been taken off the school roll when she died, and removed from the main school database," the spokeswoman said. | "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. | "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." | "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." |
| Phil Neal, managing director of SIMS, Capita Children's Services, said changes would be made to the firm's software to make sure the mistake was not repeated. | Phil Neal, managing director of SIMS, Capita Children's Services, said changes would be made to the firm's software to make sure the mistake was not repeated. |
| "When a child is no longer attending a school, for whatever reason, the software will allow the school to continue to produce letters to their parents as occasionally it is necessary to do so. | "When a child is no longer attending a school, for whatever reason, the software will allow the school to continue to produce letters to their parents as occasionally it is necessary to do so. |
| "It appears that this is what has happened in this case which everyone involved deeply regrets. | "It appears that this is what has happened in this case which everyone involved deeply regrets. |
| "We have all been saddened that this caused so much distress to the family." | "We have all been saddened that this caused so much distress to the family." |