| |
SCHOOL GATES FIASCO OF NEW UNIFORM RULE
First day of term rally against ban on trainers and hoodies
IT was back to school with a bump at Pimlico School as scores of students were sent home for wearing the wrong clothes.
Angry pupils rallied outside the school gates on the first day of term yesterday (Thursday) against surprise changes to the uniform.
Trainers, white laces and hoodies have been banned – without consultation.
A spokesman for the school said: “Students who do not comply will be sent home after a telephone call to parents.”
Staff at the entrance, when told by parent groups that barring entrance was unlawful, lodged pupils on “internal exclusion” in “referral rooms”.
Parent Alison Moore said: “It was a complete fiasco. I did not receive a phone call from the school. My daughter was simply told to go home. We are taking legal advice about the way the kids were treated this morning.”
Parent Nick Rutland said: “There was zero consultation about the uniform. My daughter has been a model student with a good record of behaviour and is always tidily dressed. Today she has gone in as a rebel.”
He added: “The most disappointing aspect is the lack of communication.”
Mr Rutland’s complaints echo criticism of headteacher Jo Shuter’s new regime. Ms Shuter, acting head at the school since it was put on special measures in January, told the West End Extra on Friday of plans to scrap lunch.
The move is needed to compensate for the multi-million pound rebuild of the the school, she said.
More than 1,200 pupils will be crammed into a playground three quarters of its original size when the works begin in January.
The new school day will start at 8.30am and end 2.45pm with two 30 minute breaks.
Westminster NUT said it was balloting for industrial action.
Ms Shuter said: “The building works are a real concern because the kids need to run around – especially the boys. There are four big playgrounds at Pimlico but from January they will only have two thirds of one playground for two years. That is why we have to reduce the school day.” |
 |
|
| |
| |
