Red card from angry mum

Head Boy Reece Gibson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Yasmin Begum Head Girl.

A HEAD teacher has denied that badly-behaved pupils were deliberately kept away from school during a visit from Sir Alex Ferguson.

The legendary Manchester United boss officially opened the new £30 million Radclyffe School in Hunt Lane, Chadderton, last Tuesday.

But angry mum Pauline Hardaker claims pupils without a spotless record were told to stay away.

Some children were told it was a teacher-training day — by text message.

However, head teacher Hardial Hayer says pupils were informed in assembly back in February about the “Audience with Sir Alex” day. He claims children were told by the school — mission statement “working together for excellence” — that only those who made the most progress would be able to attend as a reward. Mrs Hardaker, from Chadderton, said her 12-year-old Reds-supporting son, Jordan, his friend and other children in her family and neighbourhood, were sent a text from the school saying it was a training day.

She said: “It was a blatant lie. None of the pupils who had not got a 100 per cent attendance record, or had ever been in the slightest trouble, were not wanted. Surely Sir Alex would have given the perhaps not-so-perfect children someone or something to aspire to. This was only for the elite and I’m very disappointed.”

But Mr Hayer explained that the school hall’s capacity is 450. The school teaches 1,350 children.

He said: “It had been designated a teacher-training day. We made it clear to everyone that it was not the most able students but the ones who made the most progress that would take part.”

Mrs Hardaker has since written to Sir Alex to voice her concerns.