A mother whose 14-year-old daughter was allowed to have a secret abortion without her knowledge after talks with school advisors today said it had left the schoolgirl "traumatised".
Michelle Smith, from Mansfield, Notts, fell pregnant last month and after consultation with a community health worker at school she decided to have a termination.
Within days her mother, Maureen Smith, found out what was happening and the teenager changed her mind but it was too late.
She had taken the first of two pills as part of the chemical abortion process and the damage was irreparable.
Her mother is now furious that despite not having been consulted over the abortion she is now left to pick up the pieces.
Mrs Smith told the Daily Mail: "This is one of the worst things she will go through in her life and I knew nothing about it. I wasn't there to help or protect her.
"If my daughter had been truanting from school or causing trouble in the classroom I would have been informed.
"Yet she can go ahead and have an abortion which will affect her for the rest of her life and I have no say and no rights as a parent."
Michelle, whose identity has been revealed with her mother's consent, was with a steady boyfriend when she discovered she was pregnant.
Confided
She confided in a community health worker at Brunts School in Mansfield before starting the abortion process.
Her mother only discovered the news when she was told by a passer-by in the street, her solicitor Angela Donen said.
"She didn't become aware of it through school or her daughter but someone who met her in the street," Ms Donen said.
"Her view is that how can it be right that that she is the mum but she is not told and she is left picking up the pieces.
"The girl clearly did not know what to do or she would not have changed her mind later."
Mrs Smith talked to her daughter later that night and brought the child's father and his mother into the discussion.
Ms Donen said that after talking, the daughter decided she did not want the abortion and they contacted the local hospital.
At first they were told she could keep the baby despite having taken one of the pills but the next day they discovered the situation was irretrievable.
Ms Donen added: "The mother's point of view is that she understands what the law says but it does not appear to be reflecting what most parents of 14-year-olds would assume would happen in that position.
"My view is that it is very sad at a time when the government is putting more and more responsibility on parents for their children that the school can keep this whole thing secret from a parent."
A spokesman for the school said that they had issued a letter to all parents in September to make them aware that community child health workers could be speaking to children.
The letter stated: "Most pupils wishing to have an individual consultation concerning a health related matter would make an appointment in school themselves.
"Please note that parental consent for an individual consultation is not required other than in rare circumstances when the young person is judged not to be sufficiently mature to take part independently.
"No consultation will be held without pupil consent.
"Consultations remain confidential to the pupils other then where issues of child protection arise when health professionals are legally obliged to disclose such information."
Consent
A local education authority spokeswoman added: "Teachers are not legally bound to inform parents if any young person tells a member of staff that she is pregnant and if there is to be any disclosure the teachers should seek consent from that pupil that they are working with."
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I feel sad that the 14 year old girl either didn't or couldn't confide in her mother in the first place about the pregnancy or the fact that she was having sex. I also feel sad that this poor girl's experience is being splashed all over the papers. Whenever things like this happen there are lessons to be learned all round. I think the lesson here should, in the first place, be confidentiality. Unfortunately, it seems her mother broke that rule at the time when she needed comfort and counselling most. I only hope she receives support and guidance from now on.
I think it is absolutely disgusting that the school kept such a personel thing a secret from this childs mum and they should be sued she should take them to court so that it does not happen again to anybody else . the poor girl will be traumatised for the rest of her life she had a right for her mum her own flesh and blood to be there to comfort her give her advice not just some teacher who probably doesnt no anything about this girls life i really think its disgusting . I really hope the girl recovers from this terrible trauma .take care love julie .
The daughter was entitled to confidentiality and impartial advice from the school and health workers and this is what she got. No-one stopped her from talking to her mother but from her reaction I can understand why she didn't. Now the mother knows - not because her daughter told her - the girl has supposedly changed her mind - really? or is she just bowing to pressure from her mother? - and is being paraded in front of the newspapers. The only thing abhorrent about this case is that the mother takes no responsibility for the situation...for her daughter getting pregnant and for not wanting to tell her...
This is a really sad situation. I do feel for the young girl having this splashed all over the newspapers. I do have to ask though, why the mother, knowing that her daughter had a steady boyfriend, did not sit her down and explain about contraception and consequences of unprotected sex. I feel too many parents leave this to schools to teach.
sex education ??
steady boyfriend does this mean we would have had another teenager pushing a pram at 14 yrs of age, seems to me that in todays society if you get pregnant at that age you get a free house, free benfits and not much prospects of ever getting a job but maybe having more kids and even more benefits!!!
A fourteen year old has no businees bringing a baby into this world. I do not blame the school, they tried to help a girl who clearly could not confide in her parents. Maybe her mother should be wondering why her daughter was having sex at this age without her knowledge, instead of blaming everyone else. I am only in my early 20's and I was brought up to know that I was too young to be having sex at 14, maybe she should try teaching that value!
The question I'm asking is why is a 14 year old having sex. Also, why could she not find it in herself to approach her mother? Obviously didn't feel she could tell her so questions need to be asked by the mother why her own daughter couldn't tell her she was having sex and unfortunately became pregnant. Seems it's always somebody elses fault to me. Can no one take responsibility for their actions anymore? This girl (at 14) decided to have sex, got pregnant and decided on an abortion. But, she happened to suddenly change her mind when it was to late. Doesn't that just show how immature these children are, as afterall they are just children. If you can't accept responsibility then don't have sex, simple enough really. Will probably get blasted now by angry from somewhere.