School puts 500 pupils in detention for flouting new uniform rules

Nearly 500 pupils were punished with a mass detention at a secondary school for flouting new strict uniform rules.

Parents have called the no-nonsense uniform requirements "a joke" which demand polished black shoes, bespoke jumpers and tailored trousers.

The 1,280-pupil Penglais School, a state comprehensive, enforced the strict uniform changes to coincide with the arrival of its new headteacher Mair Hughes.

But around 450 schoolchildren are said to have been sent to detention yesterday(TUE) on the first day of term, with many parents saying their children's footwear was apparently to blame.

One mother at the school in Aberystwyth, West Wales, said her daughter was punished for not wearing leather shoes, despite explaining to teachers she was a vegetarian.

And another said she'd spent £50 on her son's black, leather polished shoes only to be punished for being the wrong shape.

Another parent, Kelly Hughes, said: "My daughter was given detention on the first day back. I am so cross as I have bought shoes to match their description - all black, leather, polishable, flat smart shoes - and apparently they are not in the policy.

"She's been told that she will have one hour and 20 minutes of detention today and after school tomorrow if she doesn't get another pair of shoes."

Another parents said: "My daughter got pulled aside by two teachers today. Apparently she's wearing the wrong shoes.

"They are black and flat, they pulled her up on the fact that they are not leather. When she explained that she's a vegetarian and doesn't want to wear leather she was told that was not a good enough reason.

"She's been told she will have detention until she sorts her shoes out. I'm fed up with it. Let the kids have a bit of individuality and expression for goodness sake.

"Putting them into a strict school uniform is ridiculous, and then punishing them with endless detentions is totally unfair."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/06/school-puts-500-pupils-detention-flouting-new-uniform-rules/

How costly is this for parents, by such ridiculous rules on shoe-wear?

Bloody schools. I won't wear leather shoes for the same reason. Maybe the girl said that as non leather shoes are much cheaper.

Never heard a rule anywhere, that says kids must wear leather shoes. What next have to wear real fur in the winter.

I agree about the leather shoes. There's no reason someone should be forced to wear shoes made out of leather if they don't agree with it.

I'd like to see pics of these shoes which flout the rules though.

Raggamuffin wrote:I agree about the leather shoes. There's no reason someone should be forced to wear shoes made out of leather if they don't agree with it.

I'd like to see pics of these shoes which flout the rules though.

Exactly. What do vegetarian shoes look like?

The school is probably in partnership with the certain stockist that sells the specific clothes they are insisting the kids wear.
A pair of grey pants or a grey school skirt is the same whether its bought cheaply from a supermarket or bought for 3 times the price from the allocated shop.
Its just a money generator for both the school and the shop.

Faux leather shoes are almost identical to leather shoes...this is a big fuss over nothing and the schools who are enforcing these ridiculous rules should  be ashamed of themselves.

Original Quill wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:I agree about the leather shoes. There's no reason someone should be forced to wear shoes made out of leather if they don't agree with it.

I'd like to see pics of these shoes which flout the rules though.

Exactly.  What do vegetarian shoes look like?

They can look the same as leather shoes, so it wouldn't be obvious they weren't leather. They can also be made of microfibre though, which would be more obvious, although that can look very similar to suede.

Syl wrote:The school is probably in partnership with the certain stockist that sells the specific clothes they are insisting the kids wear.
A pair of grey pants is the same whether its bought cheaply from a supermarket or bought for 3 times the price from the allocated shop.
Its just a money generator for both the school and the shop.

Faux leather shoes are almost identical to leather shoes...this is a big fuss over nothing and the schools who are enforcing these ridiculous rules should  be ashamed of themselves.

Yes. My school uniform was very unique, so it couldn't be obtained from any old source, but if it's more vague, I guess black or grey trousers can be got anywhere. It's probably the level of smartness which was the issue.

Well on the first morning of a new term I should think all grey trousers and skirts, whatever they cost  would look smart.
I think the school head is being a pain in the arse.

Incidentally....how can they tell black leather shoes  from black man made material?
I love leather and have coats and jackets made out of it, but some of the leather look clothes and shoes are so like the real thing nowadays the only way I can tell the difference is by smelling them.
Wonder if the teachers went round sniffing the kids shoes??

Nobody can be forced to wear leather if they're a vegan. It would go against their human beliefs.

I doubt very much that teachers have been carrying out detailed forensic inspection of pupils shoes to see if they are leather or not...!!!



And I'm pretty sure that no school here in UK today would be stipulating a 'leather shoe only' policy either...!!!


Load of bollocks!!!

Raggamuffin wrote:I agree about the leather shoes. There's no reason someone should be forced to wear shoes made out of leather if they don't agree with it.

I'd like to see pics of these shoes which flout the rules though.

Yes... let's see some actual pictures of these shoes that didn't comply with the rules...?


I bet it has absolutely nothing to do with them not being leather...!!!