Courtney, in Year 9 at the Norfolk high school, had worn the poppy with pride on Tuesday only to be told by principal Smith to remove it
One of Britain’s strictest schools has banned a pupil from wearing a knitted Remembrance Day poppy because it was ‘too big’.
Great Yarmouth Charter Academy, which previously saw controversy when staff began measuring the length of girls’ skirts, told 13-year-old Courtney Dougal to take off the knitted tribute.
Headteacher Barry Smith banned the symbol as it was ‘too large’ and broke the school’s rigorous dress code – despite it being less than half an inch bigger than the traditional paper poppy.
Courtney, in Year 9 at the Norfolk high school, had worn the poppy with pride on Tuesday only to be told by principal Smith to remove it.
Her father Raymond Dougal, 69, said he was ‘absolutely disgusted’ by the school’s tough stance.
He said: ‘I am absolutely disgusted that they have made her take the poppy off. It is a little bit on the larger side but that is what makes it.
‘If it was huge and looked ridiculous I would not have sent her in it. As it is it looks lovely. She is only little so that probably makes it look bigger than it is.
Headteacher Barry Smith banned the symbol as it was ‘too large’ – despite it being less than half an inch bigger than the traditional paper poppy
He added: ‘I said to Courtney to just go in and wear it but she didn’t dare.’
Mr Dougal bought the poppy in his local pub The Sportsmans Arms in Great Yarmouth, with contributions going to the Royal British Legion.
Landlord John Vale said the school ‘overstepped the mark’ this time, branding the ban ‘disrespectful.’
Charter Academy defended the move.
A statement said: ‘Poppies are available in school and we encourage pupils and staff to wear them; unfortunately in this case we felt that the large knitted poppy was not appropriate to wear in school.
‘We are keen that pupils recognise and respect the sacrifices made in war, and pupils are being encouraged to learn the poem In Flanders Field. Many will be taking part in the town’s Remembrance Day service on November 11.
Great Yarmouth Charter Academy, which previously saw controversy when staff began measuring the length of girls’ skirts, told 13-year-old Courtney Dougal to take off the knitted tribute
‘We are also refurbishing and relocating plaques commemorating former pupils of the Great Yarmouth Grammar School that served in battle, as a permanent reminder of that important heritage.’
Last month, furious parents hit out after the school called in ‘uniform police’ to measure the length of girls’ skirts.
Experts from a nearby uniform shop were consulted after pupils started turning up in short skirts.
Don’t meet me at McDonalds: Earlier this year Great Yarmouth Charter Academy wrote to parents to ban this haircut, which had been nicknamed the ‘Meet me at McDonalds’ online for its association which ‘chav’ culture.
It comes after a report found one in three schoolgirls had experienced some form of unwanted sexual attention while wearing their uniform.
A poll of 1,004 girls aged 14-21 found 35 per cent had received unwanted sexual attention or contact such as being groped, stared at, catcalled or wolf-whistled.
One in eight of respondents said they first received such unwanted attention before they turned 13.
Great Yarmouth Charter Academy has previously been criticised by some parents for its strict new rules on uniform and haircuts, banning one style called ‘Meet Me at McDonald’s’.
The curly-on-top, short-at-the-sides look has been compared to the eighties’ New Romantic movement. It features shaved sides and a long tousled top with a floppy fringe.