The rule has been introduced at Alder Grange Community and Technology School in Rawtenstall because plimsolls and dolly shoes do not offer enough protection in science lessons.
Sandra Healey and Kim O'Brien are furious after their 12-year-old daughters Megan and Alex failed a uniform check, along with other girls in their class. Alder Grange's rules on uniform state that pupils must wear `safe' footwear for design and technology classes, which include working in science laboratories.
Sandra, 41, of Musbury Crescent, Rawtenstall, said: "It's absolutely pathetic.
"When the shoes came out I thought they went with the school uniform."
Kim, 47, of Almond Crescent Balladen, Rossendale, said: "When the headteacher comes into class you have to stand up and put your blazer on and stand at the side of the desk to have a uniform check.
"All the girls wearing these shoes were then sent out of class."
Dress code
The school's dress code states: "Plain black shoes with a sensible height of heel. We would ask you not to buy any form of black trainers.
"Another type of footwear to be avoided is the Timberland brand. Girl's shoes should not be of a type without a heel back."
Head David Hampson said: "A small number of pupils have had a letter saying there's a problem with their uniform and asking for the problem to be sorted out.
"The vast majority of pupils and parents respect that. We wouldn't exclude anyone for a uniform offence.
"It's always been the case that plimsolls are not acceptable in school.
"Everybody here has to do design and technology and we want pupils to be safe, both in school and on the way to and from school.
"When it gets to winter we get a lot of ice and they are not appropriate footwear. They're not safe and they don't give much protection if you are working in a science laboratory.
"All we are doing is regular routine uniform checks, which we do particularly at the start of a school year. It is not a change to our uniform policy in any way whatsoever." Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Cobblers...........HaHa
what about siding with the teacher so that these brats understand who's boss
It's hardly surprising there's little respect for authority anymore when you get parents like this who think that they can dictate school uniform policy to a Headmaster!
Jiggerz, Mancunia
Agree absolutely. Look at Black Flag's comments on the Linedancer story. He thinks we should all ignore any rule that doesn't suit us personally. Recipe for disaster in my opinion.
And you can bet if one of these had an accident at school because they had the wrong footwear they would be first in the queue to try and get compo.
The Headteacher has explained the safety issue so I see no point in the parents making a fuss,
no story really.
Ballerina style pumps are pretty much the worst thing you can wear, as they have no support in the heel or arch. They can cause a lot of problems with ligaments etc, especially in a growing child. A good sturdy shoe with arch support is much better. But I'm sure parents are more concerned about their kids being "trendy"...
absolutly no story here. if the school has a uniform policy and parents don't like it they should take there child to a different school....simple!!!!!
Kids have always tried variations on the school uniform,especially at 12 and above.The difference today is that parents back them.
All schools should have a standard uniform with trousers for the girls and if they dont conform dont educate them .Its simple if people are serious about their kids education they will control their kids and make sure they comply for free education.(there is a lot of kids in the third world would do anything for this)People in britain are so ungrateful for this great gift we have called education,and the abuse the teachers have to take is disgusting.
Local lad: "People in britain are so ungrateful for this great gift we have called education"
It's funny how you expect people to show gratitude for receiving education, but you've never so much as said "thank you" to me for paying towards the cost of the benefits that you live on.