Parents 'disgusted' over stricter uniform policy

Parents have told how they were "disgusted" with how staff treated pupils with incorrect uniform on their first day back to school.

The Sir Harry Smith Community College in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, sent pupils who did not comply with the uniform policy to the school hall, rather than lessons.

Some parents said their children felt "humiliated and singled out" with one mum "brought to tears" over the situation.

The school said it had tightened its rules and had reminded parents and carers during the summer term. A parent meeting has been organised for 12:00 BST on Saturday at The George Hotel to discuss how the situation was handled.

On her grandson’s first day of school, Emma said he was sent to the hall as his shoes "looked too much like trainers".

She requested the school let him attend lessons so he was not "treated differently on his first day" and they would find more appropriate shoes over the weekend.

"My daughter had already spent £500 on a logo uniform over the summer and said she had no spare money for new shoes right now," she said.

"She was very upset and brought to tears... she felt poor shamed in front of other children her son and staff.

“She felt she had let her son down.

"We felt he was humiliated and singled out in front of his friends as they went into school without him on his first day."

Emma said while she understood the need for uniform policies, she did not like how it was being implemented.

"It is not the application of the policies I have a problem with - I think the uniform certainly needed to be addressed, it was the attitude and how we were treated that was the problem.

"And how children and parents have continued to be treated - I am disgusted with the lack of education because of the fabric of a skirt or that it is one inch above the knee."

Other parents said they had difficulty finding the correct uniform, while another added only one of her two sons was sent to the hall for inappropriate shoes, even though they both wore the same footwear.

"Some of us can’t afford to replace uniform again and again because they do not have the correct uniform for us to purchase," said Hannah.

"My daughter is being refused education because she has a nose stud in or because her school shoes have a logo on them."

Some children, who did not attend regular classes because of their uniform, were sent to the hall and given worksheets.

Emilia said it took her daughter less than half an hour to complete the work "despite school assurance she will be provided with appropriate school work".

Principal, Dawn White, said the school had high expectations of students.

"Our uniform policy has been tightened up and parents/carers were regularly reminded of this during the summer term in preparation for our return in September," she said.

"The consequences for attending school in incorrect uniform were also clearly communicated to parents/carers.

"The vast majority of students have returned to school in the correct uniform and prepared for the new academic year."

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