Parents livid after faculty sends pupils residence for carrying designer sneakers

A mum was left livid after her daughter was despatched residence from school for carrying designer sneakers.

Numerous college students had been both despatched residence or put in isolation at Grace College in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, for carrying unsuitable footwear on their first day again.

One pupil was despatched residence for carrying Nike branded strolling boots whereas the pupil in query wore Vivienne Westwood pumps.

The college students had been simply hours into their first day again on Tuesday, September 5 earlier than they had been despatched packing by workers.

Mum-of-two Melissa Pope stated her 11-year-old daughter was compelled to spend the day in isolation till her grandmother was in a position to decide her up, with the teen now reluctant to return.

Melissa informed Chronicle Live: “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. They’ve said she can’t wear them for health and safety because the shoe doesn’t cover the top of the foot. I asked if I could get her a loafer and they said that still wasn’t acceptable, it had to be a brogue type of shoe.

“I simply do not see why, I do not perceive it. She was carrying them for the final two years of major faculty and he or she did not have any issues. I believe it is only a energy factor. There had been so many women despatched residence right now. It’s a faculty, it isn’t a camp. They’re getting handled like they’re within the military and they have to do that and that and put on this and that.”

Phlebotomist Melissa continued: “The solely factor it is accomplished right now is disrupt an entire faculty. She hasn’t accomplished something or had any classes. She would not know what the varsity is like. She’s simply been caught in a room. I’m not going to purchase one other pair of sneakers, she is going to simply not return. I’ll attempt to get her into a special faculty.”

The dad of a year nine student who chose to remain anonymous, claims a “massive proportion” of girls had been sent home for wearing the black Vivienne Westwood shoes, which feature the brand’s logo on the front.

He said: “It’s ridiculous, it is manner excessive. They’re not bearing in mind their training. They have been off for six to seven weeks already and they will preserve them off additional for a pair of sneakers.

“They’ve had all that time off during the pandemic where they’ve had to stare at tablets and iPads to try and get some sort of education. The North East has the lowest GCSE results in the country and we’ve got a secondary school sending kids in year nine – when they start to knuckle down for GCSEs – home for a pair of shoes. Surely their education and their GCSEs are more important than a pair of shoes?”

The dad sympathised along with his fellow dad and mom, a few of whom have shelled out as a lot as £100 on their youngsters’ sneakers. He added: “They could have sent a letter home to say, ‘We appreciate that kids want these types of shoes and they’ve probably spent a lot of money on them, but can you please make sure they wear a different pair of shoes if possible’.

“Not one thing as abrupt as sending them residence and anticipating them to have a pair of sneakers immediately. We’re in the course of a price of dwelling disaster. Parents have in all probability scrimped and saved up for these sneakers that had been £100 as a result of their youngsters harped on for them as a result of all their pals are carrying them. I’m fairly indignant that they’re clearly specializing in issues which might be much less regarding then others which were raised to them. There’s extra essential issues that must be addressed fairly than sneakers.”

The mum of the year 10 boy, who also didn’t want to be identified, revealed she had to take time out of work to collect her son. She claims she was also asked if she could take another student home with her as well as their parents were at work – even though she had been working herself.

The woman, who is working as a student nurse, said: “It’s a Nike strolling boot – he walks to high school and again on a regular basis and they’re strong. They need them to put on workplace exhibits, like brogues. That’s not good for them to stroll to high school in, particularly within the rain. I’ve informed the instructor if they don’t seem to be going to just accept him into faculty they’ve to attend till I receives a commission on the finish of the month.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous, a shoe is a shoe. Fair enough if it was white converse or bright trainers but they’re shoes. It doesn’t change how they’re educated. It doesn’t make any difference what they wear on their feet. Uniforms are expensive enough. He’s been home for six weeks, I want him back to a routine. He needs his education. He hasn’t been able to get his timetable.”

Grace College, beforehand often called Joseph Swan School, informed the identical publication that college sneakers must be plain black and devoid of trend logos to make sure consistency throughout the faculty, guarantee security and shield college students from strain to observe tendencies.

A spokesperson defined: “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 wise, sensible and good worth and clear steering on it’s supplied to households previous to their youngsters becoming a member of the faculty; the coverage may also be discovered inside three clicks on our web site. All households are conscious that college sneakers must be plain black and polishable, and devoid of trend logos. Our web site provides steering on eight completely different types and we title really helpful 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 provide of uniform in faculty to help college students to do that straightaway. Where it isn’t doable to rectify a uniform difficulty, we all the time contact dad and mom and search to work with them to place issues proper. We have had to do that with numerous college students right now.”