Parents shocked after 'children inspected in playground and suspended over incorrect uniform'
Parents have been left fuming after their children were sent home from school for wearing the wrong kind of uniform. Almost a dozen students were suspended and told they could not come back to classes over their clothing.
They were pulled into a room and told they would be sent home if they did not change into the 'correct' uniform. The school said it had 'clear expectations' on what pupils should be wearing.
But parents have been left shocked at the decision, claiming their children look 'absolutely smart'. One mum even claimed students are 'inspected' in the playground before the start of the school day.
READ MORE: Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer makes heartbreaking admission 27 years on from death
Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here.
It is thought 11 students across different year groups at Cottenham Village College, Cambridgeshire, were sent home. Teachers told students they were suspended on Monday, October 14, and could not return to school until Wednesday, October 16, CambridgeshireLive reports.
A Cottenham Village College spokesperson - which is part of the Astrea Academy Trust - said: "We have very clear expectations on uniform, and this has been communicated to families on multiple occasions in a range of ways; in addition to weekly reminders about uniform we have been in touch with individual families where there have been issues.
"Our website also makes our expectations very clear." Diane Hurst, whose daughter Alexandra is in year 8, said she was 'absolutely appalled'. She said her daughter was told her grey, knee-length skirt was made of the wrong fabric – despite wearing the same skirt when in year 7 and all of the autumn term so far.
Mrs Hurst said: " My daughter, when she leaves, looks absolutely smart. Every morning when they get to school they're stood out in the playground and they're actually inspected, and if they don't match up they have to go to a 'boutique' to change the item of clothing."
The 'boutique' stocks spare uniform for students. Her daughter was sent to change her skirt but none of the spares fit her
She was placed in isolation and her parents were asked to collect her from school. Mrs Hurst said: "Why can't they just go in if they're looking presentable? I think they should concentrate more on the educational side."
Esther Hunt's daughter Amelia, who is in year 9, was sent home because of her skirt – which she had been told last week not to change. Amelia said she was pulled aside and told her skirt was rolled up.
But she showed staff that it was not before being directed to a room with a group of other girls. Amelia said teachers started handing out skirts to girls - but not all girls were given skirts that fit them.
She added: "It stresses me out a little bit because I'm there to learn and I want to get an education and they're really stopping that." Her mum said: "She's worn that skirt now for two weeks with no problems, no warnings, and no cards.
"I cannot believe children are losing out on valuable education due to their skirts." Mrs Hunt has been invited to a meeting to discuss Amelia's uniform.
She added: "I work full time, I run a business – two days I've lost work." Becky George's daughter Chelsea is in year 11 and was told her skirt was made of the wrong fabric.
She was given a skirt two sizes too big at the 'boutique'. Ms George said her daughter's skirt was 'the right colour, the right length, it's just the wrong material'.
Ms George, who works at another Cambridgeshire school, said she was concerned about the mental health of the children following the incident. She said: "They just care about their policies and that's it.
"She's got GCSEs coming up, she's got mocks coming up next month, and she shouldn't have to be worrying about whether the skirt that I bought her is going to get her suspended." Ms George said she had heard from many other 'irate' parents whose children had been pulled aside or sent home because of their uniforms.
A school spokesperson added: "All families were invited to let us know if they were struggling to provide uniform for any reason so that we can help source items. This week, students arriving to school not in the right uniform were offered the opportunity to change into brand new uniform items loaned by school so that they could continue the school day with no disruption to their learning.
"A small number of students refused to change, and each had a follow up call home where the parent was offered the opportunity to either bring in the correct item of uniform, or have a conversation with their child to ask them to change into the items of uniform loaned by school so that they could attend lessons. Girls have the choice of wearing grey trousers, or a grey knee-length skirt – both of these can either be bought at any supermarket or the uniform shop."