A SCHOOL has defended its decision to charge parents to see its nativity play.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School has asked parents to pay £1 a ticket for its three plays including one performed by the whole of key stage 1, one by reception pupils and one by children in its nursery.

Following criticism from some parents, headteacher Louise Bury said other primary schools in Worcester also made similar charges and pointed out the money raised would be pumped back into the school for the benefit of children and their parents.

She said: "From my understanding it's not something that's uncommon but it's the first time we've done it.

"We are becoming a bigger school and there are cost implications on that."

She said the school in Chedworth Drive, Warndon, was selling 180 tickets for three key stage one performances with pupils restricted to four tickets each.

Parents with reception year and pre-school children were also being asked to pay for year-group nativity plays.

Mrs Bury said: "The money raised is being put back into the school to buy story sacks to help us to work primarily with our English as an additional language (EAL) parents.

"We want to set up a group of parents to help the children with their reading.

"It was seen as a wonderful opportunity for us to raise some money.

"We are a very poorly funded authority."

She added: "Everything we do is for our children. We are wanting to invest in reading.

"We have taken the decision to do it and we hope parents will see the benefit in what we purchase and we will share that with them."

Some parents questioned the move, including one who contacted the Worcester News to say they felt it was wrong for the school to charge parents to watch their own children, especially in a Christmas play.

The anonymous parent also complained about the timing of performances, saying: "Parents were given one opportunity to purchase tickets for the only evening performance before many parents were informed that tickets were sold out therefore tickets could only be purchased for Tuesday at 2pm or Wednesday morning, obviously excluding any working parents from watching their child resulting in many disappointed and upset key stage one pupils.

"Parents are also expected to provide costumes for their child to wear for the play despite possibly not being able to watch them."

Mrs Bury said numbers for each performance had to be restricted because the school, which has 318 pupils, was growing and the hall could not accommodate all parents at the same time.

She said: "We don't have the capacity and we are trying to make it a pleasant experience for them so they have a seat and they are safe.

"There are regulations as to how many we can fit into the hall."

She said selling the tickets on a first come, first served basis was the only way it could be done.

However, she added: "We are a school that prides itself on listening to our parents.

"I know some parents have asked questions and have not been generally happy but the majority of them understand.

"I want to thank them for working with us.

"We will review this if going forward they aren't happy."

The story sacks the school aims to buy would include a book and items related to the story with the idea that parents could be inspired to create even more of the sacks.

The school moved from a one form to a two form entry three years ago.