Christmas is 'CANCELLED': Festive references 'banned' from school pantomime performance to be 'more inclusive to all faiths'

The decision was made to ensure children whose families do not celebrate Christmas could attend the pantomime performance, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

The letter sent to parents read: "As this is not a Christmas event, but a pantomime, it can be enjoyed by everyone wit the changes we have requested.

"We are keen that ALL of our children should enjoy the pantomime and for it to be a fully inclusive event, have removed Christmas songs from the production.

"Children will continue to enjoy our usual Christmas events as we progress through the remainder of this term."

Following backlash from angry parents, headteacher Mandy Ovenden issued a second letter this week explaining the school's position on making the event "fully inclusive."

In her letter to parents, Ovenden explained that discussions with the pantomime company revealed Christmas songs were included in their standard performance.

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"We have a number of families who either do not celebrate Christmas or do so in a different way. The children of these families are removed from events such as this, at the request of their parents," she wrote.

The headteacher emphasised that as this was not specifically a Christmas event, it could be "enjoyed by everyone" with the requested changes.

She assured parents that traditional festivities would continue, stating: "Children will continue to enjoy our usual Christmas events as we progress through the remainder of this term."

Parents have expressed outrage over the decision to remove Christmas references from the pantomime.

One parent told the Daily Mail: "This shouldn't be allowed.

"Christmas is celebrated all over the UK and the world, and you just can't eradicate it so a few people will not be offended."

They added: "A pantomime is only ever held at Christmas, but it's crazy that there can be no mention of the word."

Another parent criticised the headteacher's approach, stating: "The head is wrong pandering to the whim of a small minority of parents.

"She or the panto company should have said 'no'. You cannot eradicate our history and culture."

A spokesperson for Chaplins Pantos, the Essex-based company staging the production, confirmed they typically include festive elements in their shows.

"We don't always mention Santa Claus, but there would usually include a Christmas song and there would be reference to Christmas.

"On this occasion, the school asked us not to include any reference."

A Wherwell Primary School spokesperson said: "We are very excited to be able to treat our pupils to a fully inclusive pantomime this year.

"As we do every year, we are also running a range of Christmas celebrations across the remainder of the term, ensuring that overall our planned schedule of events is well-balanced and reflects our whole school community."