Pupils have been left “devastated” after a school cancelled its Year 11 leavers’ assembly at the last minute due to bad behaviour.

Queens’ School’s headteacher Jonathan Morrell emailed parents saying “a significant number of students did not meet our expectations regarding their conduct on the last day of formal lessons”.

In the message, sent yesterday at 5.22pm (May 10), he said the Bushey school had therefore scrapped the assembly and warned students not to come in today.

Several parents contacted the Watford Observer branding it “really unfair” to punish the entire year group rather than just the pupils involved.

One mum, whose daughter is in Year 11, said: “Her and her friends are devastated. None of them got their shirts signed, they haven’t had a proper chance to say goodbye, give out teacher presents, get their leavers’ hoodies.

“It’s such a sad way to leave their school life on such a sour note.”

Another mum slammed the late email, which she said left many parents “furious” and with no opportunity to complain.

“This cohort in particular has suffered due to the impact of several lockdowns and the adverse effect on their mental health,” she said. “They were rightly looking forward to celebrating the fact that they had actually made it to their GCSEs.”

She also claimed pupils had been told if anyone from Year 11 went into school then the prom would be cancelled.  

Despite the headteacher’s message, a separate email to parents apparently signed by the school’s Year 11 director of learning, reads: “I only found out about the decision a couple of minutes before you were emailed.

“It was decided at a meeting after school and neither [another staff member] or myself were aware that they were going to make this decision.”

They go on to say they believe the pupils involved should have been punished but “I don’t feel that punishing the whole year group was the right thing to do”. 

“I am sorry that things have ended on this sour note,” they added.

Headteacher Mr Morrell told the Watford Observer: “All students in Year 11 enjoyed a full final school day on Wednesday, celebrating five years at Queens’. It included all the rituals normally undertaken by leavers: signing shirts, handing out presents, saying goodbye to staff and friends alike. There was also a sporting event with all the year either participating or observing.

“Sadly, concerns around health and safety emerged during the day which led us to cancel the final assembly planned for the following morning and commence study leave. This was a difficult decision to make and clearly disappointing. 

“The school has high expectations of students and considers health and safety a priority and the calm and orderly running of the school for the 1,500 students not in Year 11, including public exams which have already commenced.”

The school has a long history of “very positive and enjoyable” leavers days for Key Stage 4 and 5, he added.