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Student Misses Weeks Of School Over 'Unacceptable' Shoes

Student Misses Weeks Of School Over 'Unacceptable' Shoes

His parents say they've tried buying five different pairs of shoes for their son, but none have been deemed acceptable

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

A schoolboy has been forced to miss five weeks of school after five pairs of shoes were deemed 'unacceptable'.

Vaclav Carady returned to Gloucester Academy in Saintbridge on 9 March after schools reopened.

However, Year 7 student Vaclav was told his shoes were not appropriate, and was offered a choice of two alternatives: a pair of girls' shoes in his size and a pair of boys' shoes two sizes too big for him.

Vaclav, 12, who has to wear a certain type of shoe due to a high arch in his foot, ended up opting for the oversized boys' shoes.

Mum Denisa Caradyova claims the shoes her son had worn to school were similar to a style that had been previously permitted.

Reach/Gloucestershire Live

Denisa, 34, from Tredworth, said: "We found out the night before school return that he did not have shoes that fit him so we went out to Tesco and Asda to buy him some new shoes, which were similar to what he had worn before. All what we could find in the supermarkets were black and leather and Velcro fastening.

"Vaclav came home from school at 4pm on the first day and I saw he was not walking well. I asked him if he was okay and he explained what had happened at school."

She continued: "I was so angry and shocked. He has a bad foot which means he has to wear a certain type of shoe.

"The school did not even call me and left him like that. The shoes were a hazard and he could have fallen down the stairs or broken his leg. It was not safe. How can they do that?"

Vaclav's parents say the school has not accepted five different pairs of shoes that they have bought for him.

Reach/Gloucestershire Live

Dad Vaclav Carady Sr, 39, said: "We sent in pictures of the shoes we had bought. Each time we were told the shoes we had bought him were unacceptable.

"When I was at the school I saw another pupil wearing the same shoes at what we had originally bought our son. How can it just be my son with the wrong shoes?"

The frustrated father decided to take his son home instead of him being placed in isolation.

He added: "I know how important education is. My son has missed too many hours of school, however he is not allowed back. They told me there is nothing they are able to do and it is the school rules."

Gloucester Academy says it expects pupils to attend school even if they do not have the correct uniform, and that it offers children free clothing if they do not have what is required.

Headteacher Jonathan Heap said: "We make every effort to support our students and their families to comply with our expectations.

"We recognise this has been a challenging time and we have a large stock of school uniform that we offer free of charge, including a range of brand new shoes to those who need them.

"We would still expect students to be in school, even without the correct uniform, to allow us to provide support and assistance."

Featured Image Credit: Reach/Gloucestershire Live

Topics: UK News, News, School, student