'My boy was shouted at because he was smiling!': Primary School headteacher cancels carol concert over safety fears after furious parents demanded she was SACKED for telling children their first performance was 'rubbish'

  • Head of Windsor Clive Primary school, Cardiff, cancelled showing of festive play
  • Move came after angry parents stormed school over treatment of their children
  • Pupils allegedly told they would be get bread and water at their Christmas party

Head teacher of Windsor Clive Primary School, in Cardiff, Vicky Meadows

Head teacher of Windsor Clive Primary School, in Cardiff, Vicky Meadows

A primary school embroiled in a Christmas concert row cancelled a second performance over safety fears after parents tried to confront the head teacher and demanded she was sacked. 

Families stormed Windsor Clive Primary School in the Ely area of Cardiff, after devastated pupils were allegedly rebuked for their poor theatrical performances.

Such was the uproar at the school, that headteacher Vicky Meadows cancelled yesterday's second showing of the play.

Police were called after furious parents protested over claims children were told they were 'absolutely rubbish' in their Christmas play.

Some parents took to Facebook to express their anger towards Mrs Meadows.

Kelly Jones wrote: 'My boy got shouted at by her because he was smiling at me when he was singing in his concert.'

And Laura Thole added: 'My daughter was in tears because of her and she didn't go in today either because she thought she had let me down she was so upset!'

Hayley Price said: 'I was more p****d off my daughter left school scared because of the police and upset because her concert was cancelled.

'Different ways to be dealing with a situation than scaring loads of kids in school.'

One mother said her daughter was told she was a 'disappointment' and came home in tears.

She said: 'All of the kids came home saying the same thing so the headteacher must have said it.

It's hard enough getting children to take part in the plays when they are shy but then this takes away their confidence because they feel rubbish

'My girl came home crying and didn't want to perform again because she thought she would be a disappointment.

'The headteacher only comes out at Christmas and none of the kids even know who she is.

'It's hard enough getting children to take part in the plays when they are shy but then this takes away their confidence because they feel rubbish.

'I know a lot of parents are really angry about this.'

Another mother said: 'I was furious when I heard what happened and I came down to the school to speak to the deputy head.

'He explained that the children had been drawing on wood in the church and defacing it. That's why they were told off.

'All that the headteacher did was say to them that they were doing better in rehearsals.

'Apparently she said to them they should be doing themselves proud.'

Mothers and fathers also claim that their youngsters were warned they would be given only bread and water for their Christmas party if they did not behave.  

Police were called to Windsor Clive Primary School (pictured) after furious parents protested over claims children were told they were 'absolutely rubbish' in their Christmas play

Police were called to Windsor Clive Primary School (pictured) after furious parents protested over claims children were told they were 'absolutely rubbish' in their Christmas play

One angry mother urged others to write to school governors.

She said: 'We want the best for our children and they don't deserve to be mistreated.

'She [Mrs Meadows] told all juniors there [sic] concert was rubbish and she was so disappointed that if it happened today then all there parties would be cancelled.

'But they did brightly and she said they did, in front of parents, but soon as they got back to school she told them that ''disgusting'' is beyond the word for it.'

Another woman wrote: 'Having enjoyed two brilliant performances in my grandchildren's school, I cried when I read this. How can it ever be the children's fault? '

Another angry mother wrote: 'From what I've been told by friends that watched the play the children were brilliant and even if they weren't they still don't deserve to be spoken to the way the head teacher did.'

One mother said: 'It's the fact that in front of us parents she said they done [sic] amazing and she was proud of them and then when she took the kids back to school, she was saying they were rubbish and that they put a bad name to the school and disappointed their parents.

'These kids are only young and it's not fair on them coming out of school in tears and scared to go back the next day in case she has a go at them again.'

However, not all parents are upset with Mrs Meadows, others claimed families were overreacting.

One mother wrote: 'No! She told the children after, the concert was brilliant in the church.

'But then spoke to the class teachers who informed her that the rehearsals were much better and that they could have done better! Which was what she said to the children in the hall!

'She also told them about there messing around and talking.' 

Another woman said: 'It's a pity parents didn't spend the same energy and time supporting the school and teachers more. There's a whole generation who think the world owes them something and gets offended over the littlest thing.'  

Cardiff city council said the school refutes that any child was spoken to harshly or inappropriately after the Christmas play.

A spokesman said: 'Some parents have alleged that, following the Christmas concert on Monday, pupils were spoken to in an inappropriate manner. The school refutes this.

'If any parent has a complaint, we would expect them to use the appropriate channels to raise their concerns through the school's complaints procedure.'

Mrs Meadows was unavailable to comment on the school concert row - with a receptionist saying all queries had to be directed to Cardiff Council.

But another school worker said police were called to the school gates because of parents' anger over perceived criticism of their children.

The worker said: 'The parents were demanding to speak to the head teacher and were very irate.

'Police were called over fears for her safety - it was the only way to deal with it.' 

South Wales Police confirmed officers had been called to the school over 'concerns' raised by headteacher Mrs Meadows.

When asked what the specific concerns were by MailOnline, a spokeswoman refused to comment and hung up.

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