Pupil who missed family holidays to try to win an iPad for perfect attendance is left devastated after his teachers give him a certificate and pen instead

A SECONDARY school pupil who has missed out on winning an iPad every year for his perfect attendance record has been left gutted after teachers only awarded him a certificate and a pen.

Sam Stannard, 16, never missed a lesson during five years of secondary school, and even sacrificed family holidays and battled through colds to maintain his perfect record.

Despite being entered into a prize draw each year for students who achieved 100 per cent attendance, Sam never won the coveted prize - an Apple iPad.

Now, the teenager admits he regrets missing out on family skiing trips - after his school gave him a certificate and fountain pen to mark his achievement.

And dad Lee, 52, has also admitted he is 'gutted' for his son - and believes teachers should have given his son the iPad at this year's award ceremony held by Portslade Aldridge Community Academy in Brighton.

He said: "He was a bit disappointed to have got through the whole of secondary school and not miss a lesson, to only be awarded a fountain pen.

"You would have thought for the last day of term prize draw, they would have given him the iPad.

"No one would have known any different if they had just awarded it to him.

"I was down-hearted for him."

Sam, a keen sportsman, added: "I started going in everyday, and when I was ill I didn't feel ill enough to stay at home, and then after a few years I realised I had not had a day off school.

"My family goes on holiday skiing most years, and when my whole family went in February, I didn't go.

"Every term I was entered and I wasn't picked once, I was a bit unlucky. But that's the way it goes.

"If I could go back I probably would have gone skiing."

Sam maintained his perfect record but another boy at the school who had previously achieved 100 per cent attendance for five years was given a laptop.

Headteacher Katie Scott said: "We have worked extremely hard to promote the importance of attendance and we are very proud that attendance figures at PACA are above the national average and the second highest in the city.

"We have driven attendance in a variety of ways, including competitions and awards.

"Attending every day of school over five years is a tremendous achievement for any student.

"We recognised Sam's achievement in the year 11 leavers' assembly and in a special award at our inaugural annual awards ceremony.

"That evening was all about students' successes and achievements being recognised, and their pride in that.

"Every winner received the same prize - a certificate of achievement and a pen."