Angry parents have criticised a primary school after it closed its doors to pupils so that staff could jet to Rome for a pilgrimage.

They accused Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School in Birmingham of being “hypocritical” as parents were fined for taking their children out of school for trips away.

The school, rated outstanding by Ofsed, was closed on Friday for what it described as a “teacher day” as teachers embarked on a four-day trip to Italy, leaving parents having to find alternative childcare arrangements.