15 September 2023 , 09:07
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A school has faced backlash for putting a child in isolation for wearing a supermarket version of the official skirt as parents claim pupils are being punished for "financial struggles."
Holderness Academy in Preston, East Yorkshire, has sparked widespread outrage after an image of the identical skirt went viral and caused a heated debate. The school has defended its decision despite critics arguing that it contradicts new government guidelines aimed at making school uniforms more affordable.
Cheshire MP Mike Amesbury, who initially brought the bill to Parliament advocating for cheaper school uniforms, has publicly called out the academy's stance.
Sharing a photo of the skirts on Twitter via @looknorthBBC, he stated: "This breaches the statutory guidance on school uniforms I helped to introduce as a result of my private members' bill. Ironically, to stop this indignity from happening to children and families."
The BBC's tweet has elicited hundreds of responses, with the majority expressing their frustration over the "utterly ridiculous" decision,. One user commented: "Something really needs to be done about school uniform. Having a very very limited number of suppliers for a start, the cost especially right now, only a blazer and tie should be school issued in my opinion." Another person wrote: "What an absolutely awful decision. Punish the child for their family financial struggles. School is hard enough for less privileged pupils without this sort of outdated cruelty."
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A representative for the Consortium Academy Trust, which oversees Holderness Academy, defended the rules, stating they were designed to instil pride in being part of the school community. They said parents were made aware about the policy in June.
The spokeswoman 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."
She further explained: "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."
The government has weighed in on the controversy, asserting its expectation for schools to adhere to new guidance. A spokesperson for the Department for Education stated: "We have been absolutely clear that uniform should be affordable and costs for parents should be kept down by enabling them to choose high-street and unbranded options. Our statutory guidance is that cost and value for money for parents should be the most important consideration by schools when deciding how to source uniform and we expect schools to follow this."
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