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Wadebridge School truancy text sent to parents in error Wadebridge School truancy text sent to parents in error
(about 3 hours later)
Worried parents jammed a school's switchboard after a truancy alert was incorrectly sent telling them their children had not turned up.Worried parents jammed a school's switchboard after a truancy alert was incorrectly sent telling them their children had not turned up.
The text messages, sent by Wadebridge School in Cornwall, were sent to a "high number" of parents on Monday.The text messages, sent by Wadebridge School in Cornwall, were sent to a "high number" of parents on Monday.
Headteacher Tina Yardley apologised and said she was unaware until parents called up and arrived at the school. Head teacher Tina Yardley apologised and said she was unaware until parents called up and arrived at the school.
The messages were sent following a glitch with the computerised truancy reporting system. Initial reports suggested the cause was a software glitch, but later the school confirmed it was down to human error.
Parent Sharon Meehan said: "We tried to call the school for about three quarters of an hour and couldn't get through. When we did they told us it was a computer error. In a letter posted on the school's website, Ms Yardley said: "As soon as we were aware that something was wrong we sent another message as soon as we could to inform parents."
'Worrying' 'I was worried'
"We dropped him [their son] off at school in the morning. I was worried about where our son was, he is only 12. She said the school then posted messages on its website and social media.
"The school was very apologetic but it was still worrying." Parent Sharon Meehan said: "We tried to call the school for about three quarters of an hour and couldn't get through.
In a letter posted on the school's website, Ms Yardley said: "As soon as we were aware that something was wrong we sent another message as soon as we could to inform parents that there was a computer error and to try and alleviate any worry." "We dropped [our son] off at school in the morning. I was worried about where our son was, he is only 12.
She said the school posted messages on its website and social media. "The school was very apologetic, but it was still worrying."
"We do realise and understand the anxiety and worry that this message caused some parents but as you can see it was not something that we had control of, but we will do everything we possibly can to make sure it doesn't happen again," she said. The school, which has about 1,200 pupils, said an internal briefing would take place to make sure it did not happen again.
"Once again we apologise for this incident."
The school has about 1,200 pupils.