School's Christmas show cancelled over 'racist abuse'

Highland Council said Cauldeen Primary's planned Christmas show has been replaced with other activities

An Inverness primary school has cancelled its Christmas show after receiving "racist and abusive" online messages.

Cauldeen Primary planned to stage a musical written nine years ago that included a scene telling the story of refugee children caught up in the Syrian conflict.

Highland Council said there was "negative feedback" on social media and "racist and abusive" messages - some of them directed at the school and staff.

Police Scotland said it had received a report of threatening and abusive communications online and its inquiries were ongoing.

It follows recent protests in Inverness after an announcement of UK government plans to use a city army barracks to house asylum seekers.

Highland Council confirmed the planned show had been cancelled.

"Following negative feedback on social media, including racist and abusive messages - some of which were directed at the school and staff - the school has made the wellbeing of staff and pupils its main priority, " a spokesperson said.

"Instead of a Christmas show, classes will enjoy other festive learning activities in school.

"Under devolved school management, decisions like this are an operational matter for the school."

Police Scotland said it received a report of threatening and abusive communications online on Friday morning.

"Inquiries are ongoing," a spokesperson added.

The incident was first reported by the Press and Journal newspaper.

Highland Council said some abusive messages were directed at Cauldeen Primary staff

The Christmas show was based on Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, a play created in 2016 by Edgy Productions, an education organisation which produces scripts and music for schools and youth theatre groups.

The plot tells of three of Santa's helpers working in a new "hi-tech set up" at the North Pole.

In part of the story Santa shows two youngsters the hardships faced by a group of refugee children.

Edgy Productions said it was "shocked and saddened" to hear that the school and staff were targeted with abuse.

A spokesperson said the musical's themes were tolerance, friendship and peace.

They said: "The musical production in question was written and published in 2016, and contains a single scene and song about refugees caught up in the Syrian conflict and encamped on the Turkey-Syria border.

"This was international headline news at the time and the world's sympathies were with those refugees.

"If some people have mistakenly inferred that this children's production has any content about the migrant situation which has sparked debate in the UK some nine years later, then their reaction is misplaced."

'Shocking behaviour'

Council education chairman John Finlayson said the abuse had affected the health and wellbeing of school staff and undermined the "ethos of the school in the lead up to Christmas".

"It is unfortunate that the decision has been taken to cancel the planned nativity play, but school staff are best placed to make such decisions," he added.

"They know best the impact the actions on social media will have on the wider school community and I am sure parents and guardians will offer their support at this difficult time."

Angus MacDonald, Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, said he was saddened that staff had been subjected to racist abuse, and the school has felt it necessary to cancel the production.

"I hope that the kids will have a chance to show off their talents in one form or another," he added.

"Here in Inverness, the community has been so welcoming to families from countries like Ukraine and Afghanistan.

"All of those posting appalling abuse online need to take a long hard look at themselves. I hope the police will be pursuing this shocking behaviour with urgency."

The incident comes against the backdrop of a row over the UK government's plans to use Inverness's Cameron Barracks as asylum seeker accommodation.

The Home Office has proposed housing about 300 men at the military site, near Inverness city centre, over 12 months.

Demonstrations have taken place in Inverness in support of asylum seekers, and opposing the plans.

The Highland region has previously housed people from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Syria under resettlement schemes.