AIBU to think this is discrimination?

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DD10 is very tall for her age. Her dad is 6'8" & she is already 5'8", just slightly taller than me now. She has just started to be a bit self conscious about her height.
This week she had a supply teacher - in PE they were playing benchball. DD caught the ball & passed it to someone on the bench who also caught it, this meant she could get on a bench. But her classmates said it wasn't fair if she got on a bench as she is so tall... the teacher agreed and told her to stay on the ground. DD isn't actually that good at sport, & to have something she 'won' (a place on the bench) taken away seems really unfair.
I have emailed school but had no reply. I was actually quite annoyed but toned that down in the email, I'm wondering if I should have said more....should I follow this up or am I being oversensitve and should I let it go?

YANBU
Some people/children excel at sports without even trying, it's all in the genes sometimes. If we applied the same rule the teacher did then there would be no one good competing at sports. Think you're absolutely right to complain about this. This is why we are creating a snowflake generation. The other children should accept that others will beat them at sports.

You’re technically right, but I think you need to know when something is worth pursuing. Was she upset?

YANBU. My DD1 is also very very tall. I hope she won't have to deal with anything like this, but if she does, I will be doing just as you have done. Entirely unacceptable of the school.

This isn’t discrimination as height isn’t a protected characteristic.
Other children need to suck it up and accept that sometimes physical attributes will aid you in sports. They will be good in some things and so will your daughter.
P.S. supply teachers taking P.E. In primary schools are notoriously shite.

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Yanbu, why play a game where height is an advantage if you are going to do this? When I was at school we would have all expected to be a good sport about something like this.

It's unfair treatment and you were within your rights to raise it with the school.

It sounds a bit unfair but it's not discrimination.

It is unfair, but I think emailing to complain is rather excessive.

Sounds very unfair, but as others have said primary school PE is awful. This may be why she see's herself as not good at PE.

At only 10 that doesn't have to be the case going forward. At her height she could be an amazing GS in netball, see if there are any local clubs with junior teams - they would be very pleased to see someone like your DD, and would probably give her some really good coaching / positive attention which would improve her confidence with regard to her height.

It's not discrimination and probably was unfair but I wouldn't email the school about it.

I would actually follow through with the school.
Its not about some school PE lesson its about teaching your daughter what is and is not acceptable.

If you dont pursue this would she think that her being tall gives people the right to penalise her throughout her life?

It is definitely not discrimination but it is unfair treatment.

As a PP said loads of sports clubs would be happy to have your daughter as her height is an asset. What sports does she like doing? If you don't know get her to try a few

Well yes it is discrimination but not against a protected characteristic and not illegal or anything.

I don't think you were unreasonable to complain. I'm very tall and probably would have been the same height as your daughter at the same age. I was very self conscious about my height until I was an adult as I was so much taller than everyone else and people constantly drew attention to it.

It's not something I'd bother fussing about. It's just a game. Was she asked to stand on the floor but still be 'on the bench' (ie a catcher)? If so, the teacher was just trying to level the playing field, I guess. I wouldn't have done it because lots of children have a physical or genetic advantage in a sport and that's life. But I don't think it's the crime of the century either.

I was the opposite at your daughter's age. I was a good head shorter than most of my classmates. I remember playing a netball type game in Y6 PE and I was a defender. A very tall, strong girl who was playing attack literally picked me up and moved me out of her way to score. The teacher laughed and let her have the goal. I was outraged and went home and told my mum. She laughed too! Oh the burning injustice in my 10 year old mind.

That's made me really cross on her behalf. The supply teacher can't just pander to other kids. I hate to think of your DD getting a complex about her height.

The fact that height isn’t a protected characteristic within the Equality Act doesn’t stop this from being discrimination. In fact, if we,re going to be that legalistic about it, it’s worth noting that the European Convention on Human Rights doesn’t limit discrimination in that way.

Thanks for all of the replies.
No she wasnt a catcher at all. She was upset..a bit sad, but more the 'it's not fair' thing I hear so much from her these days. This time though I did agree. Just 2 weeks ago some boys in her class were teasing her about her height & calling her a troll...that's the first time anything like that had happened and she was very upset. I had a quick word with her teacher...he spoke to the boys next day & did a class reshuffle of seats so they were no longer on DDs table.
Her dad & I are divorced...re the PE thing he told her she will just have to get used to it. I disagree....I dont want her to think it's ok for her to miss out on stuff because shes so tall. Usually I'm very careful about not letting her know if I disagree with her dad, but this time I did say to her that even if dad was ok with that kind of thing growing up it doesnt mean she has to be.

Oh ok, no, if she missed out on being the catcher at all, that's not fair.

I still don't think I'd raise it with the school but I would tell your daughter that I agree with her that it was unfair.