A MUM was left fuming after her 12-year-old daughter was kicked out of class for wearing an Asda skirt.
Lilly, from Holderness Academy in Hull, says she was among the many girls who had their waistbands inspected so a teacher could make sure their uniform was bought from the school’s official provider.
Lilly, 12 with her Holderness Academy School Uniform Skirt[/caption]
Toni-Leigh Dunn, 14 with Mum Becky Richards who are having issues with Holderness Academy School Skirts[/caption]
But when she was found to be wearing the £7 black skirt from Asda rather than the near identical £17.99 school exclusive version, Lilly was reportedly sent to learn in isolation.
Her parents Katie and Wayne, say that due to her slim physique, they could not find a skirt to fit her from Rawcliffes Schoolwear and instead purchased one from the supermarket.
Mum Katie told HullLive: “We originally did try to get her the right skirt but Lilly is tiny, it kept falling off her.
“The skirts are between £17.99 and £21.99 each from Rawcliffes, but we managed to find black pleated skirts from Asda, which cost £7 for two.
“She wore a Sainsburys skirt last year and had no problems but this year, teachers have been asking pupils to lift up their blouses so they can see the label in the waistband. When Lilly was found to have an Asda skirt, she was put in isolation and came home very upset.”
In isolation, also known as “reflection”, students are made to sit in silence and answer questions from a textbook on their own.
Dad Wayne said: “It’s not her fault that she can’t fit into the right one and she shouldn’t be punished for it – the school need to contact the parents directly to discuss it.
“The majority of the children being put in isolation are good kids that don’t deserve to be there.”
Meanwhile, Lilly described the experience of being in isolation as “boring and stressful”.
The youngster said she finds it hard to learn by herself with a textbook and has missed out on spending break times with friends.
But Lilly isn’t the only pupil at Holderness Academy facing similar problems, with Toni-Leigh Dunn pulled out of school by her mum.
Toni, 14, claims she was placed in isolation for two days after a “humiliating” ordeal where she was made to line up and have her waistband checked.
The teenager said: “It was really embarrassing, I didn’t like having my skirt checked and it’s a relief I don’t have to go back.”
Her mum, Becky Richards, alleged that Toni’s form tutor instructed her to “lift her blouse up in front of her whole class and male teachers”.
Becky continued: “Then, they loudly read out that her skirt was from Asda, prompting other kids to make fun of her and claim she couldn’t afford the proper one.
“At the rate Toni is growing, I can’t afford to be splashing out £20 every couple of months for a new skirt. This is the last straw that makes it clear learning isn’t the priority, it’s about how the school looks.”
The ultra-strict school has also reprimanded pupils for wearing the wrong shoes and belts which are brown, not black.
In response, Holderness Academy and other schools in the area are standing firm with their new uniform policies.
A spokeswoman for the Consortium Trust, of which Holderness Academy is part of, 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.
“We work respectfully with our students, demonstrating our school values at all times.”
Meanwhile, a Department of Education spokesman said: “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.”
