Appointment: Courtney Brain, 16, was taken out of lessons when she visited her GP for treatment . A straight-A schoolgirl was given a detention for missing half an hour of lessons for an emergency appointment with her GP, her mother claimed yesterday. Courtney Brain, 16, was taken out of school at Skegness Academy when she visited her GP for treatment for a water infection. But she was stunned upon her return to class in Lincolnshire to be told she must make up the missed time for the ‘unauthorised absence’. Her mother Jane Burnham, 50, criticised the ‘mind-boggling’ decision last Wednesday to punish Courtney - who she claimed has a 98 per cent attendance record, although the school put this figure at 91 per cent - and accused the Academy of being ‘petty and unreasonable'. Mrs Burnham, who runs a hotel in the town, said: ‘I was gobsmacked. My daughter has never been in trouble before. She is expected to get straight A*s in her exams and helps out after school with extracurricular activities. 'She is not a problem child, she works hard and this was the only appointment I could get. Trying to see your GP around here can be a nightmare and I’ll always try and get an appointment after school. But on this occasion she couldn’t, so you take it when you can. 'She was only out of lessons for half an hour. It wasn’t like she was round the back of the bike sheds having a cigarette or going on a shopping spree. Then it would be different. 'She had a water infection for which she needed antibiotics - and I find the decision to give her detention mind-boggling. Concern: Skegness Academy (above) in Lincolnshire claimed the detention was to give Courtney, whose mother runs a hotel in the seaside town, the best chance possible of doing well in her exams in the summer . ‘Water infections can get worse so it was important to go to the doctor as soon as she could. I think it very petty and unreasonable for her to be punished in this way. I am not happy at all. 'We were gone half an hour, that’s all she was missing. It’s mind boggling. It’s disgusting really.’ The school claimed the detention was to give Courtney the best chance possible of doing well in her exams in the summer. But Jane Mrs Burnham who runs the Carmelle Hotel with husband Trevor, 53, said she did not think the extra half-hour revision will ultimately make any difference to her overall grades. Detention: Courtney (pictured) was told she must make up the missed time for the 'unauthorised absence' She added: ‘I think the extra half an hour really would not make that much difference especially as she has already done all her coursework and practical work. GP visit: Courtney had a water infection for which she needed antibiotics last Wednesday . ‘It is just revising for her English and maths GCSE now. It is not as though she makes a habit of missing school for doctor’s appointments, it was a one off. 'Courtney’s attendance is 98 per cent, which is above what the school requires and she teaches the younger kids dance after school anyway. She was left upset by this and like she had done something really wrong.’ The girl's attendance figure was contested by the school, which insisted it was 91.2 per cent - below the national average. Principal Elizabeth Silvester said letters were sent out last month in response to a growing concern about the number of sixth-form students missing vital lessons due to medical appointments. She said: ‘As a matter of course, we request that students make any routine appointments out of school hours. 'Where this is not possible, we request that students make up any time that they have lost. ‘We want to ensure students complete all the work for their relevant subjects in order to give themselves the best chance of succeeding in their forthcoming examinations.’ Skegness Academy caters for 1,191 pupils aged 11 to 18 and was given a rating of ‘good’ by Ofsted in its last inspection in October 2012.
Courtney Brain left Skegness Academy to visited her GP for treatment . She was later told to make up missed time for 'unauthorised absence' Mother criticises decision to punish her daughter as 'mind-boggling' School claims detention was to give her best chance of good grades .