A school is facing a backlash from furious parents after 100 students were placed in isolation at the start of term for wearing ‘inappropriate’ uniform.
On their first day back after the summer holidays a large number of pupils were told their uniform was not correct and were placed in ‘timeout’ at George Stephenson High in Killingworth, Newcastle.
Many were told they had the wrong shoes, trousers or skirts, but outraged parents say a day of education was wasted.
Julie Haley and her 14-year-old daughter Elizabeth Jenkins, who was given timeout because of her skirt, which was ‘too short’
However, the school stressed parents had been warned a more stringent approach to enforcing uniform policy would be in place from the start of the new term.
Julie Haley’s 14-year-old daughter Elizabeth Jenkins was given timeout because of her skirt, which was ‘too short’.
Mrs Haley, a 42-year-old carer from Percy Main, said: ‘Elizabeth was wearing a plain black pencil skirt, just above the knee.
‘Apparently it was ‘inappropriate’ but I don’t understand why. It’s a plain black skirt and meets their requirements.
‘The skirt is of acceptable length, smart and certainly not designer in any way. It has no revealing slits.
‘Elizabeth was at school for around 10 minutes before she was put in timeout. She was really upset. However, her friend who was wearing a similar skirt was not sent to timeout. Apparently her friend was not seen by the member of staff who saw Elizabeth.
‘I understand there is a need for a uniform policy but surely if it is going to work then it needs to be enforced by all members of staff across the board.
‘The children have just had a day of their education wasted.’
The school stressed parents had been warned a more stringent approach to enforcing uniform policy would be in place from the start of the new term
Elizabeth added: ‘I understand that students need to adhere to uniform regulations, but if they are going to be so strict about what type of shoes are acceptable then the school should provide the footwear themselves.’
Emma Ferguson’s sons Rhys and Kaiden were also not allowed in class.
She said: ‘The school says they are not going to teach the children because of incorrect footwear and trousers. It’s absolutely ridiculous.
‘So many pupils were put in timeout over issues like this – a number of classrooms were full and the school gym was full of children in timeout.’
Elizabeth was at school for around 10 minutes before she was put in timeout
Ian Wilkinson, headteacher of George Stephenson High, said their uniform policy had not changed.
He added: ‘Our uniform is an essential part of our identity and it helps to project the best possible image of the school, reinforcing good behaviour and with an established link to high educational attainment in the classroom.
‘This was agreed with the full support of our governors and meant that anyone coming to school in trainers, denim jackets, hoodies, and other non-uniform items of clothing would be temporarily taken out of lessons and into the Student Support Base until the situation could be resolved.’
Another mother says her two boys were told they had the wrong shoes.
She said: ‘They were both put into timeout because of their shoes. They were wearing plain black sensible low-heeled shoes and were of the same design as the ones the school deem acceptable.’
But Mr Wilkinson said it was not the first time parents had been told about the stricter approach.
He added: ‘We have been communicating this to parents since last May to make sure that everyone understood our approach. We were therefore really disappointed by the number of students not wearing the full correct uniform on the first day of our new term.
‘We recognise this is not the ideal start, however, the vast majority did attend wearing the correct uniform and we remain committed to enforcing the policy as stated.’