PARENTS have blasted a school for excluding children from Christmas Jumper Day for not ‘getting the right number of Cs’.*

The Bicester School is among many across the country holding a non-uniform day tomorrow for charity Save The Children.

But a post to the school’s website warned that not all pupils would take part, as children who did not reach the required targets this term were not allowed to join in.

The decision was met with fury from parents who dubbed the idea 'humiliating' and unfair.

Commenting online, one parent said: “I agree with reward and consequence. I do not agree with making kids in effect wear a badge for the day announcing they didn’t make the grade.”

The original post on the school’s website said ‘non uniform day on Friday for all students who have ensured they have received the minimal number of C’s’.

This relates to a behavioural system used in the school which pupils are given Cs in relation to their actions.

Those who did not get the right number of Cs were told they would be excluded from the event tomorrow and have to wear school uniform, while fellow classmates dress in Christmas jumpers and donate £1 to charity.

One parent said ‘it is a public declaration of which children have been singled out as not achieving enough’.

Another commented: “This is about raising money for charity, not punishing children. I do hope you are paying personally for every child you’re segregating so the charity does not lose out.”

Despite the backlash, the school stood by its decision and said it was a ‘privilege for those who have achieved this’ and changing it now would be a ‘disservice to those who have worked so hard to hit the target’.

Headteacher Tony Rushworth said: “At The Bicester School we are always looking for fresh ways to motivate our students towards excellent achievement, work ethic and outstanding behaviour.

“As an incentive to students, we are running a non-uniform day on Friday as a reward for exemplary effort and behaviour.

“As this stage almost all of our students have shown an excellent attitude over the Autumn term and have hit the challenging target we have set for them and will be in non-uniform on Friday.

“A tiny number of students have yet to hit the threshold but we are hoping they will by today.

"We pride ourselves on instilling our pupils with a good attitude towards their education and recognise the importance of rewarding a sustained positive approach through the academic year.”

*NOTE: The original digital headline of this story said that pupils would be stopped from joining the non-uniform day if they did not achieve good enough 'grades'. This was amended, at the request of the school, because the system refered to is based on behaviour rather than academic achievement.