AN Aberystwyth secondary school has been accused of cancelling Christmas.

The Cambrian News understands that Penglais School has taken the decision to cancel or postpone many traditional festive events. These include the school Christmas dinner, the school Christmas concert, the end-of-term day-time carol service at St Padarn’s Church, Llanbadarn; the trip to the cinema for Year 7 and 8 pupils; and a certificates evening.

A “concerned parent”, who didn’t want to be named, contacted the Cambrian News to question why so many traditional events have been cancelled.

“I can’t get any answers why,” they said. “I know that senior staff who recently retired did organise these events, the main driving force being deputy head Mr [Huw] Lewis who does not seem to have been replaced.

“There is to be no school Christmas dinner — because of a broken dishwasher apparently. There is no end-of-year celebration certificates evening in the Great Hall and no junior school Christmas concert.

“The only thing to survive seems to be the Candles and Carols in the evening in Llanbadarn Church.

“Parents, children and staff deserve an explanation.”

Penglais School acting headteacher Hayley Griffiths told the Cambrian News: “A serious equipment failure in the kitchen meant that the school was unable to prepare the Christmas dinner as planned.

“However, our Christmas Carol Concert went ahead as usual on Thursday, 15 December, in Llanbadarn Church and the Certificates Evening is scheduled to be held in the spring term.”

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