 Patricia Amos was sent to jail after her children played truant |
A student whose school attendance was so bad that her mother was sent to prison has proved she has learnt her lesson. Sixteen-year-old Emma Amos, whose mother Patricia was the first parent in the country to be jailed for allowing her children to play truant, has won a top English prize at her school.
Emma, who attends the 1,750-strong Banbury School, Oxfordshire, was one of just three pupils to be given the Key Stage Four award.
Emma, who is awaiting the results of her GCSEs and plans to go to college, said she was really pleased with the way things had changed recently.
Banbury School's headteacher Dr Fiona Hammans told BBC News Online: "It's superb for everyone in the school and for Emma particularly, bearing in mind the last time she appeared in the national papers. "It's a complete turnaround for her.
"Way back in years eight and nine she was a student who had a 30% attendance record.
"Now she has a 100% record. It proves that if you are in school you will be successful."
When Mrs Amos was sent to prison in May 2002, Dr Hammans described the sentence as "draconian" but on Friday she said: "For this particular family that has been successful, if you judge it by Emma's standards.
"For our school it has impacted because people know we are serious about attendance - if children are in school we will find a course that will suit their needs."
Mrs Amos, who vowed to make Emma and her sister Jacqui attend school on her release from prison, said she was pleased her daughters' behaviour was improving.
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It proves that if you are in school you will be successful. 
