Mother Banned From Daughter’s School After Row Over Uniform Shorts

A mother has been banned from her daughter’s school after a row over the uniform.

Tara Fifield, 26, has been told to stay away from Cedar Primary School in Strood, Kent, following the stand-off.

She wants her daughter Samantha, 7, to wear cotton cycling shorts under her skirt to “protect her modesty”.

However, the mother-of-four was told by Samantha last week that the school said she had to take the shorts off as they were not part of official uniform.

The school has banned Miss Fifield from the premises, accusing her of being rude and aggressive towards teaching staff in front of children when she confronted them about the uniform ban.

Miss Fifield denies being aggressive but said she did raise her voice at staff because, she claims, they refused to answer her questions about the shorts.

Chairman of governors Debbie Wadhams said there had been a recent uniform policy change at the school. Girls have the option of wearing either culottes or trousers instead of a skirt.

The school said the new policy addresses hygiene issues because some pupils wore shorts under their skirts during the summer.

Miss Fifield was issued with a letter banning her from the school, and when she returned to query it, police were called.

She said: “How did they know Samantha had the shorts on? They are really small and are beneath her skirt. I was asking why they had undressed her at school and why she couldn’t wear them.

“My daughter is a real girly-girl and even though I have brought her school trousers to wear, she doesn’t want to look like a boy. She does not want to wear the trousers.

“I just try to do the best for my children and, as Samantha is always doing handstands and the like, I don’t want people seeing her knickers.”

She said she is considering taking Samantha and another daughter out of the school.

Ms Wadhams said: “Our uniform policy is published on our website with parents’ agreement.

“This lady shouted and screamed at staff in front of children and aggressive behaviour is not tolerated at the school.”

(Picture: South West News Service)