A mum claims her daughters have been out of school for three days due to their shoes breaking 'dress code rules'.
Eight weeks ago Birkenhead Park School on Wirral changed its uniform policy stopping students from wearing trainers, instead opting for smarter shoes. The change has sparked outrage among some parents who claim the school has been turning away their children at the gates for breaking the school's dress code, a claim the school denies.
One parent who spoke to the ECHO said her daughters had not attended school for three days as they wear black trainers and she believes the new policy has only been implemented to rid the school of what it considers "bad and naughty kids."
Headteacher Peter Mee said some children had "chosen to go home" as they "opted not to accept the offer of a free, brand-new pair of school shoes."
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Parent Paulette told the ECHO: "I've got one daughter in year eight and another in year nine, they have always worn the same shoes.
"One wears black trainers and the other has boots, it has never been a problem.
"My 13-year-old has Oppositional Defiant Disorder and my 14-year-old has bad anxiety and does not like change. We have had meetings but the school just says that we need to go and see a doctor. The school has said they will not be allowed back into the school until they change their shoes."
Paulette believes her children's education is more important than the dress code but the headteacher of Birkenhead Park, Peter Mee, said the school is "unapologetic about applying consistently high standards to everything" it does.
Paulette said: "They are just sending children home without notifying parents."
Paulette's husband Andy said: "The school seems like they are more concerned about how the pupils look than about their education."
The new dress code is part of a series of school-wide reforms to improve standards and Mr Mee said students cannot "pick and choose which standards to adhere to". Paulette said her children were once again sent home from school today for not wearing the correct shoes.
The 46-year-old said: "Today they went back in and all they said to them was to take their shoes off and put new ones on. Or go to isolation and learn about how to wear shoes."
Headteacher Mr Mee said: "Over the last eight weeks there have been numerous communications to parents and students about the change to the uniform policy. No students were sent home: some students chose to go home as they opted not to accept the offer of a free, brand-new pair of school shoes.
"This is aligned to our equipment policy whereby students who arrive at school without equipment are given a new set so they can be in school and ready to learn. We have received widespread support from the school community in our drive for high standards and we will continue to raise aspirations for the young people in the community we serve."
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