Kid put in detention on first day of school over heel of shoes
Another parent has hit out at their child's school for its 'strict' uniform policies after a teenager ended up in detention for their shoes.
Kids across the UK went back to school this week after the summer break, and a handful of parents have since been left fuming after their children have been punished for their attire.
One schoolgirl in Gateshead was sent home on her first day of high school for her £100 Vivienne Westwood pumps, while another girl was left in 'agony' after being forced to wear a pair too small for her from the school's lost and found.
Advert
Now, Gavin Mitchell, from Cornwall, has slammed Bodmin College for detaining his daughter because her shoes didn't have a 'defined heel'.
“My daughter spent eight hours in [detention] copying out of a book because she was told she didn’t have the right shoes," dad-of-two Gavin said.
“She didn’t even get to find out her tutor group. To punish kids for the parent’s downfall is just wrong.
"They were denied an education on their first day and they weren’t even given a warning. The workplace is strict, if you go in with the wrong shoes, you get a verbal warning but [the college is] torturing kids to make sure the parents buy the right shoes.”
While the school lists its uniform policy on its website, Gavin insists that it says nothing about students' shoes having a 'defined heel'.
Bodmin College did however share a Facebook post about such rule in the days running up to pupils' return to school.
The post read: "Shoes should be smart, black and polishable; shoes are typically distinguishable from trainers by having a slight heel."
At this point, Gavin said that his wife had already purchased their daughter's new shoes.
“They brought out this policy idea about the uniform at the beginning of the summer but it didn’t specify that shoes needed to have a defined heel to be appropriate,” he said.
“Then at the end of August, they came out with vague specifics on what shoes they want but they failed to notify parents."
According to Gavin, as many as 35 Year 11 students were put in detention on the same day as his daughter for not having the right shoes.
Tilly-Rose Turner’s brother, who also attends Bodmin College, was put in detention on the same day because of his footwear.
She said: "My brother was so excited for his first day and he was crushed when he was put in reset because he’s never had detention before.
"It’s the most important day of secondary school and he couldn’t see his friends or go to any lessons."
Tilly-Rose called the move 'unfair', before adding: "I don’t think the punishment fit the crime."
A representative for Bodmin College said it would provide a statement on the matter, though it has not yet been released.
LADbible Media Group has contacted Bodmin College for comment.
Niamh Shackleton