A SUPERMARKET'S policy of barring an entire school from its store is being reviewed after a complaint.

The Co-op store in Marsh had banned pupils from nearby Royds Hall High School from going into the store after a spate of shoplifting.

But it has now changed its policy after a complaint from a pupil's mother.

Susan Stennett, of Broomfield Road in Marsh had asked her 14-year-old son, James, to go to the store to buy her a loaf of bread after school on Monday.

But when James went there wearing his school shirt he was told he would not be allowed in.

He went home and told his mother, who then went round to the store.

Mrs Stennett said: "I asked to speak to the manager and told him that this policy was tarring all Royds Hall pupils with the same brush.

"If James had got changed before going to the store they would have let him in. Surely he's the same child if he wears his uniform or not?

"There will be a minority of children in all schools who misbehave, so why should all the pupils be treated in this way?

"This was the first both James or I knew of this policy and I was really angry about it."

A Co-op spokeswoman said: "We had a serious problem with shoplifting from the store with groups entering at the same time.

"After discussions with the school it was agreed that pupils refrain from going into the store.

"But as a result of Monday's incident being brought to our attention we have asked staff to use their discretion when individual pupils visit the store out of school hours.

"We are also going to review the overall situation and would like to apologise to the family involved."

Royds Hall head teacher Dr Wendy Bradford said that when the school hears of pupils committing offences such as shoplifting they work alongside the police and parents to get them to change their behaviour.

She said she supported to Co-op's policy barring groups of pupils from the school, but welcomed the move to let individual pupils in.

She said: "When our students do behave badly in the community we feel very disappointed because it reflects badly on the school.

"Often these problems with groups are caused by them daring one another and behaving in a way they would not dream of doing as individuals.

"It is up to all of us to improve the image of Royds Hall."