Green socks fall foul of school dress code

Published 30 Nov 2012 09:30 3 Comments

AN OUTRAGED mum has criticised a school for punishing her daughter because she was wearing green socks.

Donna Sharman was shocked to receive the call from her 14-year-old daughter Ellie last Wednesday, saying she had been sent to the exclusion room at Easthampstead Park Community School for donning the footwear, which has Father, Christmas's face on them.

But the school's head insists teachers were just following school policy.

Mrs Sharman, from Halewood in Great Hollands, said: "To me, to exclude a child over a pair of socks is ridiculous."

Easthampstead Park headteacher Gordon Cunningham said: "Ellie came in on Tuesday with bright green socks on over the top of her trousers and was told to take them off - which she did. But when it happened again on Wednesday and she was told again to take them off she refused because she didn't have another pair on underneath.

"Basically, the teachers felt she was just trying it on."

He added: "The uniform is very simple here and we try to get it as cheap and plain as possible and the reason she was in trouble was for not following the uniform code."

Mrs Sharman says she was notified by the school in Ringmead, Great Hollands that Ellie was coming home - and is worried she could come to harm walking home on her own.

However, Mr Cunningham said Ellie was not "excluded" over the incident, but sent to the "exclusion room" - a place for youngsters to cool off during the day but left the site of her own accord.

"I think the most important thing is that she was given the warning the day before," he added. "We've tried to work with the uniform to make it easy and comfortable - I don't think bright socks will be coming in any time soon!"

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts? Was the school too harsh or were they right to enforce the rules?

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This article appeared in Bracknell News 30 Nov 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Bracknell34
  1 post
  Nov 30, 16:10
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  Schools are criticised for not being strict enough, then for being too strict. She was made aware of the situation the day before and then chose to ignore it the following day. Everyone, regardless of age, has to respect rules, be it school rules, workplace rules or the law. Parents also have a responsibility to be aware of the school uniform rules and to ensure their children dress appropriately. If you allow a pair of socks to go unchallenged, the next day it's tights, then trousers. Where do you draw the line?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 22     No 3

• 

  Wheelbarrow
  3 posts
  Nov 30, 22:30
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  Those socks need a wash.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 7     No 2

• 

  taraaa
  2 posts
  Dec 3, 14:19
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  ridiculous. i went to e.p and had so many detentions for silly things like this. how can anyone be told what colour socks to wear. i was almost excluded in year 10 for wearing 'the wrong coloured bra' under my white shirt- i didnt own a white bra and was told to go and buy one so i looked more appropriate. that school gets worse by the day- why dont they focus on getting decent teachers rather than exclusion for wearing green socks.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 3     No 19

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