Jason Chambers kept sons Bradley, aged 13, and Kyle, 12, at home for the day in protest after teachers at Chaucer School asked them to go home and collect carrier bags to put their books and pens in.

But headteacher Steve Robinson said it was only suggested they return home to get a bag because they live on nearby Holgate Road, Parson Cross.

Now the brothers' absence has been marked down as 'unauthorised absence' – leaving their father furious.

He said: "They seem more bothered about how they look than what they are learning. If it had been a different day my kids might not have been able to get in the house because I would be going for my dialysis.

"Why can't they carry their pens and pencils in their pockets and their folders in their hands?"

Chaucer Business and Enterprise College head Steve Robinson said: "A number of boys arrived at school without their bags. A senior member of staff welcomed them to school and suggested they might want to pop home and get their bags before school started so they could carry their books and folders around with them.

"Some lived close by and decided to do that, returning to school in time for the start of school. No-one was sent home from school for not having a bag.

"We understand one family decided to keep their two boys off school for the day, which was never our intention.

"We're very concerned about this, because of course this will affect their attendance record and ultimately their ability to achieve their full potential in school."




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