SCHOOL leavers have cancelled their party after parents refused to allow their children to attend following a warning letter from head teacher David Charlton.

The after prom party for year 11 Weaverham High School pupils was due to take place late tonight in a field at Crowton following a prom at Warrington.

However it has been called off by the organisers after Mr Charlton, head teacher at the school, emailed parents yesterday expressing his “extreme concern” over the party.

In the letter he said: “I am aware a number of our year 11 pupils are intending to take along a range of alcohol, possibly in large quantities, and are also expecting that drugs will be circulated at the event.

“I would stress neither of these is being provided by the organisers.”

He said parents needed to be aware there would be no adult supervision for the 100 pupils expected at the party and no-one with first aid training, there was no insurance or risk assessment for the event and the organisers had not obtained a licence to hold it.

“My concern is that your child’s safety may be at risk if they attend this event,” he said.

“In my view as a head teacher and as a parent, there is insufficient supervision for over 100 teenagers, and I strongly urge you to stop your child attending.

“I know this letter will not be popular with many of the pupils, but sadly as a 16-year-old you do not see the risks inherent in an event like this.”

Mr Charlton said his duty of care to pupils extended beyond school hours, and he had been thanked by parents for bringing his concerns to their attention.

One of the pupils who organised the party said pupils who wanted to attend had each donated £5 to pay for a marquee, speakers and lights.

“This raised £520, and then Mr Charlton circulated an erroneous email warning pupils’ parents of the presence of illegal substances, which wasn’t true,” he said.

“The organisers had spent hours to ensure the party was able to go ahead, and £265 of the £520 had been spent on a marquee, speakers, lights and the hiring of a field.”

As a result of the letter dozens of parents had refused to allow their children to attend, he said, and it had been decided to call off the party and donate the remainder of the money, £255, to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

He said the party was due to take place on a field owned by the parents of a former Weaverham High pupil, soft drinks would have been available, and the suggestion of alcohol and drugs at the party was speculation.