Pupils banned from class over uniform crackdown
Eighty-four pupils at a Maidstone academy spent their first day back at school this week sitting in the sports hall excluded from normal lessons, while others were sent home.
The pupils at New Line Learning Academy failed to heed warnings from the school’s new principal Jane Hadlow about a uniform crackdown.
Mrs Hadlow, who joined the school in October as interim head, taking over from David Elliot, issued several warnings, but parents said they were illtimed.
Mother Deborah King said: “My daughter Hayley was told just before Christmas her trousers didn’t meet the code, even though she’s worn the same style ever since Year 7 and she’s now in Year 10.
“I had only just bought her a new pair of trousers in September. With Christmas and everything, I couldn’t buy her another pair.”
Mrs King is incensed because Hayley, was missing classes in her GCSE year. She said: “She’s spent all morning in the freez- ing cold sports hall with a just a book to look at. Is a pair of trousers really worth damaging her education?”
Hayley had been wearing skinny-fit trousers but the regulation requires a skirt or baggy trousers.
Mrs Hadlow said: “We expect our students to wear the correct uniform with pride. Our policy has not changed, but to reinforce our high standards, we gave parents three months’ notice to ensure all students attend school in the correct uniform from January.”
She added she was grateful for the vast support expressed for the policy.
But Patrick Mullervy, of Woodside Road, whose 13-yearold daughter Charlotte was sent home in tears after wearing a non-pleated skirt, said he received no letters, email or calls.
“I bought Charlotte’s skirt at the start of last term from the school supplier. I’ve tried to order a pleated one, and they are out of stock.”
The nearby Cornwallis Academy, another Future Schools Trust site, had a similar crackdown in November 2015, resulting in some pupils being excluded for several days and an irate grandmother being banned from the site.
NLL is advertising for a permanent head teacher on a salary of more than £81,000 a year.