MP writes to Wath headteacher in dispute over uniforms

Angry parents protested outside Wath Academy against the new rules dictating bags, hair bobbles, shoes and shoelaces of a certain thickness must be black.

Upset mum Deborah Berry said she had ended up going shopping for her daughter Keira’s footwear with two teachers after two pairs of shoes were deemed inappropriate.

Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey said parents, including Ms Berry, had complained to him about “the inconsistency” and “heavy-handedness” of the new regime, with children being lined up and singled out.

In a letter to headteacher Jon Taylor, the MP said: “This is particularly unsettling for those who are new to the school and may also have fears about moving up to a bigger school.

“There are also concerns, too, about new shoes or bags being damaged, as staff asked students to cut off offending bows and tags. 

“One parent has complained to me about not being given the option to use the shoes at home and buy replacements but instead being damaged on staff instructions.”

The school would not comment on claims up to 400 children had been sent home, saying 18 students who had “refused to comply with the required uniform standards” had been educated outside their normal classes.

The uniform policy introduced for staff and students follows its takeover by the Maltby Academy Trust in April.

Ms Berry (42), of Wath, claims she visited numerous shops in Cortonwood Retail Park with teachers last Thursday - time she said that would have been better spent by them educating pupils in the classroom.

“They (the teachers) said they had still got 30 students in isolation - which is not what the school is reporting,” said Ms Berry (42), of Wath.

Ms Berry said Keira had been put in isolation for three days for the “petty” uniform breach, which caused the 15-year-old to suffer from “stress and anxiety”.

“She has hypermobility so finds tying laces hard but the school wasn’t listening to this or providing her with a pair of suitable shoes - it’s discrimination,” added the mum.

Ms Berry is calling on the school to apologise to parents over its “poor implementation”.

Grandad Brian Pattison (67), of Wath, said his two grandchildren had fallen foul of the crackdown.

“People are paying £40 or £50 for school shoes but if they’re not perfectly as they want them, they are being sent home or put in isolation en masse,” he said.

“Even if they’re black shoes, they’re being sent away if they’ve got bows on or if they’re Velcro, because they want laces only.”

Mark Shinwell said his two daughters had been put in detention for refusing to change their shoes as part of the new “military regime”.

Dale Jackson, Wath Academy executive principal, said 99 per cent of students had come in “perfect uniform” with the new uniform policy but those who had not had been “given the opportunity to rectify the issue”.

He added: “Improving the consistency of uniform is one of many strategies of school improvement.”

The school did not respond to a request for comment on Mr Healey’s letter to the headteacher.