Parents hit out at 'diabolical' school uniform amid row over knee socks and shoe
One school was labelled "diabolical" by some parents, who likened it to a "uniformed prison or cult" after children were sent home for wearing kickers-style shoes and knee high socks.
A south Manchester school has become embroiled in the latest row about school uniforms. The Manchester Enterprise Academy (MEA) reportedly saw over 60 pupils made to queue outside the school due to uniform discrepancies.
Some were sent home, while others were allegedly placed "in isolation", missing valuable school hours, leaving parents "fuming". But the MEA claimed that its uniform policy reflects the high standards they think are important for students.
The Manchester Evening News also reported that toilets are locked during the day and that only one bathroom is open for boys, and one for girls at lunchtimes. This left children "begging" parents to ask for toilet passes from the school. MEA, however, maintains that facilities are always available for students who need them.
One parent, Charlotte Dowd, said: "The school are an utter sham. I cannot wait to find a better place for my children to learn in,". She has two children, aged 13 and 14, currently attending the school. She claims her son was confined in isolation yesterday, missing out on "hours" of crucial lessons, all because of his footwear - which she insists were "plain black shoes".
Male teachers 'inspect schoolgirls' skirt length' as tears shed over uniform row
She said: "Given the current cost of living situation, if I can pick up a pair of plain black Adidas trainers from Sports Direct for £25, then that's what I'll do. They are more durable and longer-lasting than a business-style shoe, especially for a boy who plays football during break time."
The mother also shared her disbelief upon learning that the school locked their toilets during the day. This came to light when her 13-year-old daughter returned home pleading for a toilet pass.
"My daughter was so anxious about returning to school today because of it," she said. "She informed me that the school only opens one female and one male toilet at lunchtime, leading to massive queues. The toilets then become unsanitary due to the high volume of students using them."
Charlotte said the policy was "awful" for girls on their periods and blasted the school, likening it to "some sort of uniformed prison or cult where they are forcing the children to be adults".
Another mother, preferring to remain anonymous, reported that her 12-year-old daughter was sent home from MEA for wearing knee socks. She criticised the school for prioritising uniform regulations over education, particularly after years of disrupted schooling due to Covid.
She said: "I understand there is a uniform policy there. But at the end of the day, these kids need to catch up on education and the school isn't doing that. They're just nit-picking." She further criticized the school's handling of the situation as 'inappropriate'.
An MEA spokesperson said: "Like most schools, MEA has a uniform policy which reflects the high standards we believe are important for our children. On the first day of term we always support students who are not in the correct uniform. By the end of Friday, only a handful of students had yet to be wearing the correct uniform which shows how well our students have responded. Regarding toilet facilities, there are always facilities available for students who need to access them."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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