LIVID parents have slammed a school for throwing pupils in isolation for wearing “identical” supermarket school uniforms.
Kids at Holderness Academy, in Hull, East Yorks, have been disciplined for turning out in clothes not purchased from its official provider.
Becky James’ daughter Toni was plunged into isolation for turning up in a skirt that looked almost exactly like one from the school uniform provider[/caption]
Toni is now being home-schooled amid the uniform fallout at Holderness Academy[/caption]
The ultra-strict school has also reprimanded pupils for wearing the wrong shoes and belts which are brown, not black.
Angry parents today attacked the school’s draconian rules amid the cost of living crisis – and claim their little ones have been subjected to military-style playground uniform parades.
Becky James’ daughter Toni, 14, was plunged into isolation after turning up in a skirt that looked almost exactly like one from school uniform provider Rawcliffes – but had actually been bought in Asda.
Senior carer Becky, 34, has taken her out of the school in protest and is now home-schooling her.
She fumed: “It’s just ridiculous. It’s like being in a military barracks, not a school.
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“Why should I buy a £22 skirt that looks the same as a supermarket one? The supermarket one is actually longer than Rawcliffes.”
“Toni is growing really fast so why should I have to spend so much money on new skirts every term.
“They call it reflection, not isolation, but it’s the same thing. It’s like being in a prison.”
Toni, who is in Year 10 and given permission to speak by her mum, said she felt “uncomfortable” after being made to lift her top so a female teacher could check if the waistband tag was a supermarket skirt.
She said: “I didn’t like it. They lined all of us up in the playground and checked every one of us. I had to pull my top up so they could check the waistband.
“The teacher said it was the right length, but the wrong brand, so she put me in isolation.
“They had to use two exam rooms because there were so many of us falling foul of the rules.
“One of my friend’s belt buckle was too big. Ten or 15 of us had the wrong skirt.”
A full uniform from Rawclifffes costs just under £90 – including a £34 blazer, £22 pleated skirt and up to £21 for two white blouses.
They lined all of us up in the playground and checked every one of us. I had to pull my top up so they could check the waistband
Toni James, pupil
Meanwhile Asda George sells a pack of two pleated skirts for £14 and five long sleeve white girls’ shirts for £11.
The school, which has 1169 pupils aged 11-18, said its uniform policy is designed to “foster equality and encourage a sense of pride”.
Despite the draconian rules on skirts, there is no requirement for lads wearing trousers to purchase them from Rawcliffes.
Lisa Hurd, 41, who has moved her daughter Natasha, 14, to a different school, said: “To expect a parent to spend £20 on one skirt when they can buy five skirts for the same makes no sense.
“Parents have had enough. We’re not being unreasonable – we’re not asking our children to turn up in their pyjamas.
“It’s like the school’s got shares in Rawcliffes.
“Children who used to love going to school are becoming too scared to go in because they fear they’ll be picked up on something.
“It’s awful.”
‘SCHOOL DON’T WANT TO KNOW’
One mum was left fuming after her daughter’s black shoes were deemed “inappropriate” because they had a gold trim.
And the uniform crackdown has been so strict that some parents claim that teachers are even cutting buckles off shoes.
Year eight pupil Lily, 12, has spent six of seven school days in isolation after coming to school in an Asda skirt.
Dad Wayne, 46, blasted: “We’ve tried to explain that Rawcliffes smallest skirt size doesn’t fit her. It just falls off because she’s thin.
“Asda’s smallest size does fit her – but she’s not allowed to wear it, despite it being almost identical.”
Wayne says despite sending photographic proof, the school “just don’t want to know” and tell him to go to Rawcliffes.
The school was previously criticised by parents at the start of the summer term when pupils were ordered to wear blazers in heatwave conditions.
The school’s uniform policy on its website says parents can get in touch with the school if they have difficulties getting the clothes.
It states: “We appreciate that uniform is an expensive financial investment, and we work hard to ensure our uniform is affordable and of the highest quality. This is done through a rigorous tendering process which is conducted periodically.”
A spokeswoman for the Consortium Academy Trust, which runs Holderness, 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.”
Parents say Holderness Academy are subjecting their kids to military-style playground uniform parades[/caption]
The school’s uniform policy on its website says parents can get in touch with the school if they have difficulties getting the clothes[/caption]
September 15, 2023 at 01:37AM
from The Sun