A primary school allowed a mother to take her child out of lessons to attend a summer festival because the family say they are pagans.
Newington Green Primary, in the north London borough of Islington, gave permission for the three-day absence last June after the mother of the six-year-old argued that the child should be allowed to attend the celebrations because of her faith.
"When she asked originally, the school turned her down," a source said. "Then she said she was a pagan and it was a religious festival, and they said OK, because they give other children time off for religious holidays." Jennifer Slocombe, a learning mentor at the school, confirmed that the parent's request had been granted, but said that since the incident there had been a clampdown on absences.
Nick Seaton, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: "This is the kind of situation we get into by bending over backwards to try to please everybody.
clipped from: www.telegraph.co.uk