Mum slams school for sending teen daughter home over the length of her skirt

Mum slams school for sending teen daughter home over the length of her skirt A row has broken out at a school over the uniform just days after pupils returned - a mum claimed her daughter has been sent home twice and now 'doesn't even want to go to school' A mum has raged after her daughter's school sent her child home twice in a row over the length of her skirt. The mother, 46, claimed her 15-year-old girl was told to go home at 12.30pm on Wednesday and 9.10am on Thursday as her skirt was 1cm above the knee. This parent, who did not want to be named, claimed her daughter was one of many pupils sent home from Walbottle Academy, in Newcastle, after returning to school from the summer holidays. The parent, whose daughter is starting Year 11, claimed other pupils were told to go home as their trousers were too tight or too flared. This mother said her daughter did not feel comfortable wearing trousers. She added that she wasn't able to purchase a longer skirt for the pupil and claimed the next size up was too big and did not stay up on her child. The parent, speaking to the ChronicleLive, said: "You wouldn't believe how many students have been sent home. Everyone is saying it's ridiculous. Twelve of her friends were sent home yesterday. "Some people haven't even sent their kids into school today. I will just keep sending her in. She's going tomorrow with the same skirt and she's probably going to get sent home tomorrow! My daughter is doing her GCSEs and this is the most important year for her." The mum said the uniform fallout has impacted her daughter and claimed the 15-year-old has been left not wanting to go to school. The mother added: "She was dead excited to go to school. I woke up at half past six to wake her up and she was already dressed for school. "This has thrown a spanner in the works. She doesn't even want to go to school. She said 'I really feel self-conscious about wearing trousers. I'm trying to pull it down but it won't go past my hips'. Not every single girl is the same size. "I don't want her to feel uncomfortable when she goes to school. For her, wearing a skirt is better. We have tried as hard as we can, but I can’t afford to get my daughter's skirt tailored to their specific needs. "I'm totally frustrated. I just want her to go to school. It's a massive year for her. I feel like it's to the detriment of my daughter's learning." Walbottle Academy issued a document for parents ahead of the new school year which contained the uniform expectations. It said skirts must be worn at least on the knee in length and they must be worn with tights of at least 60 denier. The school said that trousers must be a tailored trouser material and must not be skinny fit or tight trousers or flared leggings/jeggings. The mum, who purchased the skirt from Asda, said: "I'm not buying her trousers because she doesn't want them and I can't buy another skirt that will fit her. I think they have got to give a bit of give and take. Fair enough the skirts need to be a certain length as some can wear them a bit short. If it's up their bums I get it but it's not. "I think they're trying to make a point because they couldn’t introduce the rule of having to wear trousers, which is what they were supposed to do this year. Last year, they wanted to implement trousers and there was a big kick off. I feel really annoyed because I just want her to go to school." The Northern Education Trust, which runs Walbottle Academy, in a comment to the ChronicleLive said it could not comment on individual cases but encouraged parents "with any concerns to speak directly to the academy". In a statement, the trust said: "Our uniform expectations were shared with families throughout last academic year and most recently on 26th June, 2nd July, 17th July and 24th August. Assemblies took place with students well in advance of the summer holidays. Information was also shared approximately 15 times over social media throughout the summer holidays. "All our policies are applied consistently and fairly. To support families and remove barriers, we have invested significantly in brand new uniform which we have given free of charge to families that have come into the academy and worked with us." The Mirror has reached out to Northern Education Trust and Walbottle Academy for comment.