to be really cross with my eldest daughter's school?

[freddiefrog]

and to have expected them to call me if they were sending her home?

Came home from dropping DD2 at school to find DD1 (who is 11 and started secondary school, 2 and a half weeks ago) sitting on the doorstep as she'd been sent home from school for not wearing correct uniform

DD1 stayed over at a friend's house on Friday night - friend's birthday and they were going out for a pizza and a sleepover. She went straight there from school on Friday and friend's dad dropped her home Saturday afternoon. When she got home she realised that she'd left her school shoes behind. We tried several times over the weekend to contact friend to get the shoes back, but we didn't manage to get hold of her until quite late last night so it was arranged that DD would meet her friend in the school reception area this morning and get her shoes.

DD went off to school this morning in a pair of plain black, lace up plimsoll type shoes with a note from me explaining what had happened. They're not uniform regulation shoes, however, she was only ever going to wear them to school and change into her proper shoes as soon as she got there so I thought it would be fine

She got as far as the gate when a teacher picked up on her shoes and wouldn't let her enter the school grounds and sent her home. DD says she tried to explain to the teacher that her friend was waiting for her in reception with her proper shoes, but he wouldn't listen to a word she said and refused to read the note I'd written.

What if I'd gone off to work or out for the day assuming my DD was safely in school? No one called me, they're not allowed mobile phones in school (they're confiscated every morning and returned every evening) so she doesn't take hers in with her so had no way of contacting me herself

I've taken her back and she's now in school, in the correct shoes, and I've asked for someone to call me as I'm really cross about it.

[Doinmummy]

Op does your school begin with a 'B' ?

The numpty teacher sounds exactly like one at my DD's school

[LynetteScavo]

Our closest school hasd a massive of collection of pumps, for those who turn up in non regulation shoes...then black pumps became fashionable so I'm guessing that back fired a little.

My friends 14yo was made to walk two miles home to get her blazer because she hadn't taken her blazer to school on a very hot summer day (my friend had told her if she was going to stuff her blazer in her bag there was no point taking it.) Luckily friend was home; what if she wasn't and dozey DC didn't have their key?

[BlueShirtBlueTie]

I've been reading this thread with interest OP and I hope you manage to get everything sorted.

That teacher sounds like a complete wanker. Did he know she was only in Year 7? Actually it doesn't matter he still shouldn't have done what he did.

[ElvisJesusAndCocaCola]

The blazer thing is unbelievable! We have similar rules where I teach, but I take the view that I couldn't care less if they wear it while I teach, it is their body and their business and they can do as they see fit without asking. I say as much.

Surely any reasonable teacher would think along similar lines?

[3birthdaybunnies]

Dreading my lot starting secondary! ! I would also write to the school expressly telling them that you do not consent to your dd to be sent home under any circumstances during school hours without FIRST contacting an appropriate adult and that if it happens again you will be contacting relevant authorities.

[BurberryQ]

throw a few phrases like
'failing in your duty of care' into the letter won't you?
that will make them poo their pants.

[BurberryQ]

oh right sorry i see you already had a meeting.
that is simply not good enough 'taken your comments on board' indeed

[freddiefrog]

I haven't heard any more from the head.

I sent an email on Monday night summarising our meeting and that I felt procedures for sending home children were dangerous - they should contact parents first but had no reply. DD did say that she didn't see the head in school yesterday so I'm going to wait until this afternoon to see if she responds

I was reading our local paper last night and there was a huge article about another local school doing the same thing - kids had been turned away at the gate for incorrect uniform so it seems it's not just our school with these policies

[BurberryQ]

contact that journalist freddie, this is disgusting, has bog all to do with education, and should be stopped.

[friday16]

Schools don't like it when their name morphs in the eyes of sub-editors from "Wotsit Street School" to "Trouble-hit Wotsit Street School".

See, for example, here.

[GreenLeafTea]

Trying called these people for free legal advice and find out whether the school acted legally or not.

www.childrenslegalcentre.com/