SUPERHEAD STANDS FIRM
More pupils sent home as school chief refuses to relax strict uniform rules
A HEADTEACHER yesterday claimed he had won massive support for ‘taking a stand’ in an escalating school uniform revolt by parents comparing him to the Gestapo.
Twenty pupils were turned away from Hartsdown Academy in Margate, Kent, for the second day in a row after flouting rules.
They were refused entry just 24 hours after 50 children were sent home on Tuesday for infringements including wearing trainers, short skirts, tight trousers and having frills on socks.
Many were repeat offenders who still refuse to abide by strict regulations enforced by newly-appointed head Matthew Tate on his first day. Up to five parents have now removed their children from the school roll in protest at his ‘Gestapo’ uniform guidelines.
But the 42-year- old headmaster was unapologetic about his no-entry policy for ‘highly inappropriate’ clothing including tracksuits, ‘very short, very tight skirts’ and ‘revealing trousers’.
He pointed to messages of support he has received from around the world and backing from governors and most families.
Mr Tate pledged to continue to drive up standards at the 1,000-pupil school and stand by ‘the silent majority’. The father of seven said: ‘The vast majority of our children do the right thing, they make the right choices, they desperately want to do well. They then look around and see the minority behaving poorly, not doing what they should do. It’s about focus on learning rather than it being like a fashion show.’
He added: ‘The overwhelming feedback
‘It’s about learning – it’s not a fashion show’
has been positive. We’ve had numerous emails and phone calls of support from our local community, from our parents, even from abroad now would you believe, and across the country. I think the majority of people know why we are doing this.
‘My hope is that children and parents will do the right thing and then we’ll have no children missing education tomorrow.’
Two police officers intervened on Tuesday after parents protested for hours at the school gates when 50 children were turned away. Half returned later in correct attire.
The school’s on- site police community support officer checked youngsters’ clothes on entry. Another 20 pupils, mainly offenders from Tuesday, were sent home again, with ten returning later in correct attire.
Furious father Dave Hopper was filmed confronting Mr Tate yesterday. His daughter, Kim, 13, was turned away on Tuesday for showing up without her black blazer. she was refused entry again yesterday due to her suede, brogue-like shoes.
In the footage, Mr Tate can be seen pointing at the teenager’s feet and saying: ‘These are not school shoes, I’m sorry’, to which Mr Hopper replies: ‘Are you for real?’ Another angry parent said he was forced to remove small silver bows from his daughter’s shoes before she was allowed in. Meanwhile, mother- of- six Michelle Butters, 30, from Margate, said: ‘My son is in Year 8. He was allowed in yesterday but not today. They said his shoes looked like trainers. They were plain black shoes with Velcro on them. I met him in town and we had to get new shoes, with laces.’
Lee Kennedy said his son was refused entry because he was not wearing his blazer. Instead he had it under his arm because of the hot weather. Mr Kennedy said: ‘My son has been turned away twice for not wearing his blazer. He had it in his hand. He suffers with bad headaches when it’s hot, something the school is fully aware
of. He had full uniform on, tie and everything. Why should he have to wear the blazer when it’s hot?’
But other parents said they fully supported the policy, which includes wearing black trousers or skirts, a black blazer, black shoes and socks and plain white shirts or blouses.
Ash Hykaj’s daughter was in trouble for wearing tight-fitting trousers but said the school policy was right. The 42-year- old said: ‘It’s a good way of teaching the children they need to follow the rules. I support him.’
Another parent, who didn’t wish to be named, said: ‘I’ve got no problems with it. I think it makes all the children the same and that way they can’t get picked on.’
The school notified parents in July that uniform codes would be strictly enforced for the autumn term and an explanatory graphic was uploaded onto Facebook. Last night, Tom Bennett, appointed by the Government to advise on pupil behaviour, said: ‘If the policy was clearly communicated to parents well in advance it’s the parents’ responsibility to work with the school.’
Hartsdown Academy was rated a ‘good’ school in its last Ofsted inspection in 2014. Inspectors said that as a result of good teaching, students’ standards are ‘broadly average’ at the end of Year 11 (age 15-16). The report says: ‘This represents good achievement from low starting points.’