Rhiannon Ingle
Back to school season has finally commenced along with all the drama of picking out the perfect pencil case, lunch box, uniform and a brand-new pair of shoes to kick off the year in style.
However, for one unfortunate pupil, the footwear faff was a whole lot more stressful after she was sent home on her very first day of secondary school because of her shoes.
Since then, the student's furious mum pulled her daughter out of school after claiming that her child was made to sit on a wooden floor for hours.
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Students attended Grace College in Gateshead on Tuesday (5 September), for the start of their new school year, but Layla Thomson, 11, was sent home for wearing her £100 Vivienne Westwood school shoes.
Layla's mum, Melissa Pope, has since slammed the school and dubbed the rules as 'ridiculous'.
She told ChronicleLive: "My daughter has had her first day at secondary school. She's been sitting in a room not learning anything at all and not wanting to go back."
The mum went on to claim that her daughter was forced to wait until last for her lunch and forced to write out school rules, with staff reportedly not letting her use the toilet or have a drink.
The 37-year-old mum-of-two said: "She was very upset yesterday. It was a horrible experience for her, it was just awful.
"They made her sit on a hard wooden floor for hours. She wasn't allowed to go to the toilet and she wasn't allowed a drink.
"There were 41 other people and basically she wasn't allowed to leave. They made her write down rules saying why it was her fault she was in isolation - because she hadn't followed the rules."
Melissa went on to claim Layla was 'only allowed a pudding or a drink' and 'couldn't have both' even though she 'gave her the money for her school lunch'.
"She was treated like a dog and that's not acceptable," the mum added.
The mum has refused to buy Layla new shoes and plans on trying to get her 11-year-old into a different school instead.
A spokesperson for Grace College has since issued a statement on the matter
It reads: "Grace College is proud of its uniform for the professional image it portrays, and we expect students to wear it with pride.
"We aim for high standards at all times and wearing the correct uniform in the correct way is a significant and important starting point in setting and maintaining these standards. Our uniform policy is designed to be fair, equal and affordable to all students, which is especially important during a cost of living crisis.
"Our uniform is smart, practical and good value and clear guidance on it is provided to families prior to their children joining the college; the policy can also be found within three clicks on our website.
"All families are aware that school shoes should be plain black and polishable, and devoid of fashion logos. Our website offers guidance on eight different styles and we name recommended suppliers.
"This is to ensure consistency across the college, to ensure safety, to protect students from pressure to follow trends, to prevent bullying and to keep costs as low as possible.
"Our policy is always to ask students to correct their uniform where they can. We have a small supply of uniform in college to support students to do this straightaway.
"Where it is not possible to rectify a uniform issue, we always contact parents and seek to work with them to put things right. We have had to do this with a number of students today."
LADbible Group has contacted Grace College for comment