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Original poster

Wrong school uniform trousers GCSE debacle

103 replies

rarebite · 11/03/2011 22:47

My daughter went to sit her Maths GCSE and was told she could not because she was not in the complete school uniform.

She had on a school T-shirt but the teacher said she must wear a jumbper and she had to squeeze into a year 7/8 jumper which made her feel hot and sweaty.

She was wearing black trousers which the teacher thought too narrow. She told the teacher none of the trousers would fit but was made to try and change in the unisex toilets. Three times she tried 3 different pairs.

When she came out the last time the teacher had gone, the exam room door was closed and my daughter came home in floods of tears.

Was this an appropriate way to handle a possible breach of school uniform policy? I am feeling very upset as she spent hours revising for the exam and I feel a detention more appropriate. She didn't intend to flout the policy - that is why she tried to get into the second hand clothes. She wasn't the only child forced into too small clothes but she was the only one who could find nothing to fit. Now she doesnt feel like going back to school.

OP posts:
gerontius · 13/03/2011 01:29

I'm also confused because there aren't any exams in March.

MaureenMLove · 13/03/2011 01:34

There are modules in March. Most schools sit yr10 modules for Maths in March.

needafootmassage · 13/03/2011 08:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FlingonTheValiant · 13/03/2011 08:29

I invigilated last year for a school who are very strict on uniform for exams.

Not one child was turned away because of it. If it looked vaguely right, fine. If they were missing something they were asked where it was before the exam, so that if it was in their bag they could put it on, but if they didn't have it they were told off after the exam.

Your poor DD.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 13/03/2011 08:32

There are modular exams in March.

The school should address the uniform issue but there is a time and a place; it's not like she was in jeans and trainers.

exoticfruits · 13/03/2011 08:35

I bet there was more to it and DD must have already had uniform issues. Just make sure she has the correct uniform next time-especially now you know!

donnie · 13/03/2011 08:36

Gosh OP you are a poet as well.

senua · 13/03/2011 09:25

rofl @ donnie.

I would love to know the school's version of events.

exoticfruits · 13/03/2011 09:52

I would bet that the school's version of events is that they had been battling with uniform and it was nothing new.

nottirednow · 13/03/2011 10:06

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exoticfruits · 13/03/2011 10:12

I agree that exam day isn't the day to confront it BUT there must have been issues-it wouldn't come out of the blue and I bet, if on study leave, they were told about dress code.It is extreme-but I bet she knew and decided not to listen.

noblegiraffe · 13/03/2011 10:18

As it is the school's fuck-up, I would ask the maths teacher to send a copy of the papers she would have sat home. You make her sit them in exam conditions, then take them into school and he marks them. It should be pretty obvious even without the exact grade thresholds whether she is a B grade candidate or whether she is at risk from missing a C - that would be the time you enter for foundation.

If she resits at higher in June (and I'm assuming she won't be taking another module then), and completely messes it up, then they'll have those results by the time she sits the next module (probably November?) and they can enter her for foundation for that one. You don't have to sit the same level for all three papers.

But the maths teacher should already have some idea of her ability. What did she get on her mock module paper?

edam · 13/03/2011 10:26

That's appalling. WTF was the teacher thinking? Power crazy.

senua · 13/03/2011 10:38

"the school's version of this would have to be pretty amazing for it to make any difference."

How about:
Most people turned up in normal uniform and were ready for the exam. Some didn't and were given an alternative from the lost property box, which fitted so they were now ready for the exam too. OPDD, despite being only a size 12, says that nothing fitted. She went off to the toilets to get changed and never re-appeared. The exam has to start on time: for logistical reasons and, anyway, why should they hold up everyone else whilst OPDD faffs around in the changing rooms, it's not fair on them. They started the exam and shut the doors, like you do. OPDD finally emerged from the toilets, had a panic attack and was incapable of speaking to anyone (invigilators, reception, pastoral staff or even her own mum). She then left school premises without informing anyone.

exoticfruits · 13/03/2011 11:53

I can't believe that they weren't told a uniform code for exams-mine certainly were.

thumbwitch · 13/03/2011 12:07

senua - you would think that the teacher might have at the very least stuck her head around the door and said "Hurry up, the exam's about to start, get out here now or you'll miss it", surely?

exoticfruits · 13/03/2011 12:09

She must have been given a dress code (or they may think as on study leave they can wear what they like)if she chose to ignore it, she is old enough to know that there are consequences for choices.

senua · 13/03/2011 12:43

Precisely, thumbwitch. As I said, we only have OP's version of what the "idiot / complete swivel head" (no underlying issues there thenHmm) did or didn't do.
There is history here.

noblegiraffe · 13/03/2011 13:40

She won't have been on study leave for a March module, it would have been part of an otherwise normal day at school. If she wasn't wearing her uniform correctly there would have been plenty of time to pick up on it in the lessons she would have attended afterwards, without disrupting her exam.

gingeroots · 13/03/2011 15:47

But OPDD's was wearing black trousers ( school does not specify a provider ) which she had worn before without any comment from staff but on the day of exam were deemed too narrow.
She had the school T shirt on but wasn't wearing the school jumper over it .
It sounds like a fairly loose/informal school uniform ( T shirt and black trousers ) ,so why go overboard on particulars on the day of the exam ?
Though possibly the school want to bring in a full bells and whistles uniform ,piped blazers ,ties etc and this type of action as justifying the decision .
" the existing dress code is too vague and open to misintepretation ,staff spend a lot of time arguing ..."
Of course there's always two sides to a story ,but if OPDD was a repeat offender etc surely this is not an appropriate sanction ?

Original poster
rarebite · 13/03/2011 16:08

Poem was a bit of fun. Like the teacher in Glee she has eyes in the back of head. Teacher is Year Head and follows children all the way through from Y7 to Y11 - DD never had a break.

DD is dyspraxic so has weak organisational skills. Has been pulled up over uniform so these days DD anxiously checks herself to ensure under radar and has routes through school to avoid Year Head.

The kids like the school uniform - T-shirt, jumper, black trousers. The school advises on uniform policy and it is observed in its basic form. It is not governors priority. School has children who truant and disrupt. DD not in this camp.

School says as children filing into exam room DD told she could not do exam unless in school uniform. DD given trousers to change into in toilet. Maths teacher asked were DD was and Year Head said she had 'nipped' to toilet to change. Both teachers left as both had to teach at same time as exam started. Deputy Head was in exam room. They have not said there was a history of bad behaviour.

Toilets are open plan. DD's feet could be seen from corridor - yards from were Year Head standing. DD says reception would not override Year Head and reception portakabin removed last week but no notices. I saw children asking where to go when I visited.

All this my word as you say but even if I am making it up - which I am not - it makes you think what is right and what is wrong. I think unless distraction to others or a persittent offender who has been personally warned in writing I would let a child sit an exam and punish afterwards. I think there was a lack of opportunity for proper scrutiny of fairness before DD was excluded from exam. So please disagree if you think I am wrong.

OP posts:
nottirednow · 13/03/2011 22:25

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Message withdrawn

elphabadefiesgravity · 13/03/2011 22:35

AmI the only one who thinks that having to wear a jumper to do an exam in is barking mad anyway.

Dd goes to a very strict on uniform private school but if they are hot they tke their jumpers off.

In an exam it is important to feel as comfortable as possible. You can't do your best if you are are hot/sweaty/itchy/whatever.

How ridiculous.

Original poster
rarebite · 14/03/2011 00:29

I agree it makes no sense to stress the kids and make them uncomfortable or late just before an exam. I don't think DD would have got her grade C if she had gone in late, stressed, hot and sweaty - so damage was done.

Maths teacher told me other kids were 'forced' into too small clothes. Its his statistics too - and he spent quite a lot of time working with parents - he had switched 10 kids to Foundation and all needed advice and extra work because the syllabus is different.

OP posts:
Original poster
rarebite · 14/03/2011 01:10

Gingerroots,

Just saw your post - you guess right - school wants to introduce new school uniform in September. Guess who was involved in the working group.

The kids used to be scruffy and I was pleased when the school took them to task - but school doesn't know when to stop. Its about right now. Tidy but not fussy.

OP posts: