Father claims school is unfairly punishing daughter, 12, for bow on shoes

A father claims his 12-year-old girl has been put in ‘isolation’ by her school because her shoes fall foul of new uniform rules by having a bow on them.

Chris Hale said daughter Chloe is being penalised because of a small bow on the front of her shoes and accused her school of focusing too much on what pupils are wearing and not enough on their education.

He said Chloe has been taught in an ‘isolation room’ at Merchant’s Academy in Bristol for at least four days since the start of term and is so upset she wants to leave.

Angry - Chris Hale says Chloe’s school is penalising her over her shoes (Pictures: SWNS)

Mr Hale said parents had received a letter about uniform changes at the end of last term, which stipulated that girls’ shoes must be black with nothing on them.

He said Chloe’s £30 shoes, which have a bow on the front were the only appropriate ones they could find on the high street.

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Chris said: “As far as I’m concerned we have bought her plain black shoes, they just have a small bow on the front. I really don’t see what the problem is.

"They are focused too much on what the pupils are wearing and not enough on their education.”

Unhappy - Chris said Chloe used to love school but now wants to leave

He said Chloe used to love primary school but claimed she is being unfairly penalised because of her shoes.

“All this is making her really not enjoy school. It is adding extra stress onto the stress of her school work. It’s making her so upset that she wants to leave.”

Merchant’s Academy principal Nick Short said the school does not put students in isolation for uniform breaches.

“If students do not conform to uniform policy they are given detentions but are not isolated,” he said.