A lesbian couple have complained to their son's primary school after claiming they were banned from attending a 'bring your dad to class' day.

Kerri Hughes said she was told her nine-year-old son Atticus could take his father, grandfather or uncle to the event at Blean Primary School in Canterbury, Kent, but that neither she nor her partner, Claire Natall , were allowed.

Ms Hughes and Ms Nattall said they feel 'discriminated' against and are angry there is no 'bring your mum to class day'. They added that the day encourages outdated stereotypes.

Complaint: Kerri Hughes claims she and her partner, Claire Natall , were banned from attending her nine-year-old son's 'bring your dad to class day' at Blean Primary School in Canterbury, Kent, pictured

The school has denied the couple were ever told they could not attend.

Ms Hughes, 39, said when she phoned to complain, school staff told her the idea was part of a government initiative aimed at promoting greater male involvement in children's education.

She said: ' I called the school and was categorically told that neither Claire or I could attend.

'I do not understand why there would be a day for male family members and not for female family members. Is this not indirect discrimination?

'I do not understand how this day can go ahead without questions being asked. Atticus said to me that he would have liked his two mums and his dad to go. '

Ms Hughes said she encouraged Atticus put his feelings into a letter.

He wrote: ' I feel very annoyed about the fact that there is a dads only day and that mums are not allowed to go. If you don't have a dad or have never seen your dad, what's the point?

'I FEEL VERY ANNOYED': WHAT ATTICUS, NINE, WROTE IN NOTE 'I feel very annoyed about the fact that there is a dads only day and that mums are not allowed to go. If you don't have a dad or have never seen your dad, what's the point? I think it is very upsetting because mums do all the work and never get time to see the child's work and do activities with the child, so I think it is wrong And I wanted Claire to come in as well so that she can tell people about her job and any other thing that she does in her spare time. I asked my dad to come, but he is working so he can't go' Advertisement

'I think it is very upsetting because mums do all the work and never get time to see the child's work and do activities with the child, so I think it is wrong.

'And I wanted Claire to come in as well so that she can tell people about her job and any other thing that she does in her spare time. I asked my dad to come, but he is working so he can't go.'

Ms Hughes wrote an email complaining about the incident to headmistress Lynn Lawrence, who replied saying the couple were welcome to attend.

Mrs Lawrence denied the claim that anyone at the school had told Kerri or her son that Claire would not be allowed to attend. She added that a mother had attended a similar 'dads' day' last autumn.

Headteacher Lynn Lawrence said: ' The class teacher was very careful how she introduced the subject because we are aware of some sensitivities around family situations.

'At no time did Atticus ask if another family member could come. He appeared happy and did not discuss it with his teacher.

'The assistant headteacher explained to the mother that it was not a problem for her to attend and that when we ran the same event in the infants in the autumn a mum did attend as there were no male relatives.

'Very upset': Ms Hughes said she encouraged her son, Atticus, to express his feelings in a note, pictured

'Research demonstrates that the involvement of both parents in the life of the school and in their children’s learning can make a positive difference to achievement, motivation and self-esteem.

'In common with many primary schools, we find that we have lower participation by male role models – fathers, grandfathers and other family members, than we do by mothers.

'While we recognise that both mothers and fathers make distinct and complementary contributions to family life an learning in school, by inviting male role models into school we are being explicit in our belief that we are committed to engaging with both parents.

“We are proud that we have held Stonewall School Champion status for the past two years and we are currently working towards the Stonewall Gold School Champion status. This represents our commitment to the Stonewall ethos of ‘different families, same love’.

'We acknowledge that there is a diversity of arrangements for bringing up children and that this may involve others who have a father role – stepfathers, adoptive fathers, foster fathers, brothers, uncles and grandparents and same sex partnerships for example and our events are inclusive of these arrangements.

'The approach of specifically targeting fathers is not unique to Blean School and we would wish to reassure mothers and other family members that we do not believe that this devalues their enormous contribution but enhances it.'

The mother who attended the similar 'dads' event last autumn said: “'There was no problem when I asked if I could attend. I didn't feel unwelcome because I was female.