Parents have said a school is acting like a 'dictatorship' as their children face 'military-style checks' and isolation over strict new uniform rules. There is particular fury over the footwear policy, which has banned trainers, slip-ons and ankle boots, as well as branded shoes such as Kickers or Hush Puppies.
Moorside High School in Werrington, Staffordshire, has issued a diagram of the outlawed shoes and skirts had been circulated before the school returned. But parents said pupils were 'ambushed in reception' and told to sit in a portable building before 'appropriate uniforms' were dropped off, StokeonTrent Live reports.
Former police worker Tracy Turley said her daughter had her first day back at school on Wednesday. Tracy said the new shoe rules meant she could only buy a £10 pair from Primark, that have left her child in agony.
She said: “I’ve gone and bought the only thing I could find that matches the requirements. That is, no silver, no patent, it really narrows it down on what you can get. I’ve had to go to Primark to buy plastic shoes for £10 as that’s the only thing I can find that fits with what they’re asking.
“They’re going to be uncomfortable, my child says she’s already got blisters and has asked for plasters. They’re going to uncomfortable while she's trying to learn.
“I understand that a uniform is a uniform, I used to work for the police. I agree with the shoe requirements, I can visualise them. But if you try to go out and find them, they’re just not available.
“The rules are that it can't look like a trainer, it must have no embellishment. You can’t have names like Hush Puppies or Kickers so you’re talking supermarket shoes, plastic cheap s**t.
“Surely I have a choice to put my children in something I feel is in their best interest at heart. Her uniform is totally spot on but she’s sitting in agony because her shoes are rubbish.”
Tracey’s daughter got the shoe policy correct but landed herself in isolation because of the material of her skirt. Tracy added: “There are children not allowed to go to their lessons because of the style of skirt. They’ve rounded the students up, like a military army inspection and anyone who hasn’t conformed is sitting and waiting in a room for the parents to be called, missing classes!"
“There are probably about 300 parents, if not more, in Werrington who are as frustrated as I am. They’re just sitting in an isolation room.”
Tracy says her daughter was expected to stay in isolation for the day despite missing out on a lot of education recently when she ended up in hospital. She added: “They said every child has a right to education but my daughter doesn’t have a right because her skirt is the wrong material. How is this preparing them for adulthood?
“Twelve months ago, I would have recommended that school to anyone but right now I could drive up there and take my kids out. If you go onto their website, their mission statement is a safe and healthy environment to learn.
“I’m passionate about uniform and rules, I'm ex-police and my brother has an MBE in the military. I feel like I’ve been cornered into finding a voice. Children are missing out on education, that’s my problem."
All Things Werrington, a community Facebook group, has seen numerous posts of parents checking the school footwear policy. Moorside High School have been approached for a statement.
