A row over the length of skirts and style of trousers worn by pupils at an Isle of Wight Academy has hit the national headlines.
An article published by The Telegraph today claims that ‘250 girls’ from Ryde Academy were taken out of lessons because their school uniform did not meet the regulations.
Things blew up yesterday after pupils were either sent home or kept in isolation because they were not wearing correct school uniform.
Parent expresses concern
The mother of a pupil at Ryde Academy got in touch with OnTheWight yesterday afternoon expressing her concern that approximately 140 children had been placed in isolation. Pupils were told the style of trousers and length of skirts did not meet with “school standard items and regulations”.
She went onto say that at the end of last month, parents received a letter from the Academy clarifying the style of trousers and skirts, but said the letter “read as a reminder when buying new uniform for the next academic year”.
“There was no mention at this stage that an enforcement of rules was eminent. On the 9th May a second letter was sent home to parents, (but not received until 12th June), stating an inspection date of today 17th June.”
New uniforms may be “outgrown by September”
The mother went on to say,
“Big Wight T-Shirt, the official uniform supplier was unaware that the school was enforcing rules, and have since run-out of stocks of the official skirt and have been unable to supply skirts to customers in-time for the inspection.
“Tesco, Matalan and BHS are amongst local retailers do not sell a suitable, black, pleated long length skirt to meet the uniform rules for sale. Sourcing one, the correct size and to fit in extremely short period of time has not been possible for many parents, let alone the expense of replacing uniform five weeks before the summer break – which will no doubt be outgrown by September!”
According to the parent, Big Wight T-Shirt had already informed the school of the stock situation.
School should focus on “raising standards”
The pupil’s mother told OnTheWight she wasn’t against rules being enforced, but felt the school should focus on increasing educational standards,
“I do not disagree with the standards being set, and in actual fact support this, however parents have not been given the enough time to source suitable clothing.
“The Academy should be focussing on raising standards (and I agree uniform is one of these) however longer timescales are required. Placing students in isolation will not help raise educational levels due to missing vital classroom time. If this was the other way round parent would be fined.”
This morning parents staged a protest outside the school, expressing their anger at the hard line being taken so close to the summer holidays.
“Parents were informed”
Dr Rory Fox, the Interim Principal at Ryde Academy told OnTheWight
At Ryde Academy we have high expectations of our students. As the weather has improved over the last couple of months, a number of uniform issues have become apparent amongst students.
“The Academy wrote to parents on 27 May 2014 about what was appropriate and there has been extensive discussion with students, as well as a number of assemblies since then. The Academy sent a second letter to parents on 9 June 2014 to inform them that there would be a uniform focus on the 17 June 2014.
“Parents were informed that if students’ uniform was still not correct on that date, then older students would be sent home to change and younger students would be educated apart until their uniform issues could be addressed.
“Preparing students for the world of work”
He went on to add,
“We are grateful to the very many parents who support us on a day to day basis by ensuring that their children arrive at the Academy in the agreed uniform, and help to uphold the standards of dress/uniform that Ryde Academy expects.
“The governors and staff are conscious that we are preparing students for the world of work and so it is important that our students understand the importance of managing their appearance and working within the framework of a dress code.
Image: heartbeats under CC BY 2.0
