School slammed for ‘putting child in isolation’ for wearing supermarket-bought uniform
It's always a faff as a parent getting all your ducks in a row before the back-to-school season commences - but this year has proven to be extra stressful with many schools clamping down on uniform policy.
From pupils being sent home for allegedly inappropriate footwear or a student left in 'agony' after being 'forced' to wear small school shoes because hers weren’t allowed - it's clear there have been some major tensions between parents and schools.
The latest drama follows a school which has been accused of putting a child in isolation for wearing a supermarket-bought uniform.
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Both South Hunsley School and Holderness Academy in East Yorkshire have come under fire from parents who are claiming their children have been reprimanded for piercings, the wrong shoes and even an untucked shirt.
Parents of pupils at South Hunsley have taken to social media to vent their frustration at the school's supposedly heavy-handed policy
One dad, whose daughter is at the school, told Hull Live: "A lot of parents are quite upset at how heavy-handed the approach was on the first day back. It just doesn’t make sense to focus so obsessively on things like earrings and socks, what impact does that have on learning?
"Where is the evidence that learning is impacted by ankles being on show? It’s archaic and makes no sense."
The dad continued: "With so many children being punished on their first day back, I would’ve thought that impacted more on learning and wellbeing than the wearing of a bracelet."
Other parents were so outraged that they reportedly wanted to write to the school directly, requesting they halt the current approach to uniforms with the belief that it only fosters a negative approach to being at school.
The enforcement of such rules could be counterproductive, the parents argue, however, it's clear the institution sees things completely different.
The Education Alliance, which runs South Hunsley School, says the rules are made available well in advance and parents should be aware of them.
A spokesperson said: "South Hunsley, like all schools in The Education Alliance Multi-Academy Trust, has a set of sensible and fair uniform rules that ensure an appropriate level of smartness.
"These rules are published well in advance and students and parents are clear about what is expected. The staff at South Hunsley are applying these rules fairly and proportionately.
"If a student makes a choice not to follow rules, they are given a warning or a sanction. That is what happens in almost every school in the country, every day.
"The trust does not expect any school to fail to apply rules simply because a parent chooses to go to the press."
And South Hunsley is most definitely not alone as other nearby schools have also received similar complaints from parents.
One parent, whose daughter goes to Holderness Academy in Hull, said: "I had to replace shoes because they had a gold trim.
"My daughter was subjected to a 50-minute lineup on the playground with all the other year 7s in blazing sun on Tuesday while the assistant head and other teachers went up and down the lines inspecting them."
The parent went on to reveal there were some children allegedly having their 'buckles cut off their shoes by teachers' with others being 'put in isolation for wearing a belt and being told they can’t wear a skirt bought from Asda despite it being identical to the one from Rawcliffes school shop'.
A spokesperson for the Consortium Academy Trust, which runs Holderness Academy, says the rules are in place to encourage pride in being part of the school community.
She said: "The start of the academic year is a key period in which standards and expectations are set. We work respectfully with our learners to support good habits and adherence to key policies; this is in the best interest of all members of the school community.
"Our schools’ uniform expectations foster equality and encourage a sense of pride and belonging in the community. We are working through a small number of concerns that have been raised by parents and will continue to work with them to overcome any barriers."
TYLA has reached out to both Holderness Academy and South Hunsley School for further comment.
Rhiannon Ingle