MPs uninvited in wake of Christmas 'cancelling' fallout

A large Tasmanian senior secondary college has written to politicians, retracting invitations to "upcoming college celebrations".

It comes after the state's premier alleged a primary school had decided to "remove all references to Christmas" at an end-of-year celebration, which led to a significant social media pile-on.

The Australian Education Union and a Tasmanian senator say the premier and education minister must apologise.

One of Tasmania's largest schools has rescinded invitations to all politicians for upcoming celebrations over the premier's "mismanagement of a complaint" about Christmas celebrations at a nearby school.

On October 14, Premier Jeremy Rockliff posted on social media that he had been told "there had been efforts made to remove all references to Christmas in end-of-year school celebrations".

Trevallyn Primary School in Launceston had planned to change the name of an end-of-year event from "Christmas on the Hill" to "End of the Year Extravaganza".

It is understood the school still planned to hold numerous Christmas-themed events.

While the premier did not name the school, and social media comments were moderated, the name of the school he was referring to was soon revealed.

It is understood Trevallyn Primary School's acting principal then went on stress leave.

On Friday, the Australian Education Union called on politicians to "stay away" from Tasmania's public schools for the rest of term four, unless the premier apologised.

The ABC has since seen a letter, dated October 27, to a Tasmanian politician from the principal of Launceston College, retracting an invitation.

"The Launceston College Community supports concerns expressed by TASSO [Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations], the AEU [Australian Education Union] and TPA [Tasmanian Principals Association] by the Premier's mismanagement of a complaint that has resulted in distress and harm to members of a local school community," principal Vicki Mackrill wrote.

It is understood politicians from all parties will not be invited.

The Australian Education Union's Tasmanian branch manager Brian Wightman said he was not sure if other schools had done the same.

He said he hoped it would finally prompt the premier and Education Minister Jo Palmer to apologise.

"We'd like to continue to focus on the work that we do best, which is supporting our educators in schools and colleges," Mr Wightman said.

He believed the ban would extend across all school events for at least term four.

Labor Senator for Tasmania Helen Polley said the withdrawal of invitations to politicians from schools was "deeply disappointing" and urged the premier and education minister to apologise.

"I call on the Minister for Education Jo Palmer and the Premier Jeremy Rockliff to put our public schools before political pride," she said.

The Tasmanian Principals Association said it sent an open letter to all education department staff and politicians on Friday, urging them to follow procedures when dealing with complaints, to "avoid the harm caused when those are not followed".

The premier and education minister have been contacted for comment.