A 'disgusted' mum claims a teacher threatened to cut the bows off her daughter's socks and put her in detention on her first day of high school. The parent said her 11-year-old daughter, who attends Dixons Brooklands Academy in Manchester, was also told that her black tote bag was 'inappropriate' and needed to be replaced on Monday morning.
Previously known as Manchester Health Academy, the Wythenshawe school was renamed in January after changing to Dixons Academies Trust. The mum, who has asked not to be named, shared a picture of her daughter's black socks and bad and says she is baffled as to why the school has banned them - and punished other students over similar uniform issues.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, she said: "I'm just disgusted that kids have had a threat like this on their first day at high school. It doesn't state on any letters from school that no bows are allowed or no tote bags. As long as it holds everything you need for school it shouldn't be a problem."
The mum-of-three added: "Apparently Year 9 have to wear office wear clothes and some people have mentioned that they take tote bags and handbags with them. I don't know why it's different for other years."
She said her daughter was upset when she returned home on Monday and asked whether she could move schools. On Tuesday she took her old rucksack from primary school and wore some grey socks without bows, but the mum says she has now been given a detention for this in two weeks' time.
"She received a 12 minute detention," said the mum. "It's totally crazy."
The school, which made headlines last year after its new name was criticised by parents, is the third to join the trust's 'North West Hub', with its other two in Liverpool and the rest of its schools in West Yorkshire.
A spokesperson said: "Dixons Brooklands Academy has the highest of expectations for all students and we wish to congratulate our new students who made an excellent start yesterday. They looked fabulous in their new academy uniform.
"Uniform expectations were shared with all families on several occasions and every child was given financial support to purchase their new uniform. With regards to school bags we have stated that a bag should enable students to carry books, homework, equipment, their planner and a water bottle.
'In cases where bags do not meet this requirement we will work with individual families to resolve this."
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