School responds to angry parents after children turned away on first day of term

One parent claimed multiple children were turned away on their first day

A school has defended its strict uniform policy after pupils were reportedly turned away on their first day of term for wearing skirts that sat “a couple of inches” above the knee.

Parents claimed that students at Denton Community Academy were refused entry on Wednesday despite wearing garments purchased through an approved uniform supplier, according to the Manchester Evening News.

One father, who asked not to be named, said he had spent a “fortune” equipping his two daughters for the new school year, only for them to be denied access to lessons over the length of their skirts.

“They were ringing us saying they weren’t allowed to enter the school. The skirts they had on were not rolled at all and fell a couple of inches above the knee, if that”, one parent, who did not wish to be named, told the M.E.N.

“It was throwing it down with rain and there were 40 or 50 kids standing outside, not allowed in. They were soaking wet and some were crying.”

The father told the publication that other parents also went to collect their children, while his two daughters spent the rest of the day at home and missed their first day back.

Northern Education Trust, which runs Denton Community Academy, defended the decision, adding that parents have been reminded of the uniform expectation several times ahead of the new academic year, describing the policies as being applied “consistently” and “fairly”.

“Denton Community Academy is committed to maintaining the high standards that have driven significant improvements in our students’ educational outcomes”, the trust said.

“The academy is the most improved secondary school in Tameside and is now the highest-performing non-selective secondary school in the borough. We are incredibly proud of our students and the high expectations that have driven this improvement.”

Families were reportedly reminded of the expectations on May 6, May 18, July 16 and August 20, the trust claimed, adding, “We cannot comment on individual cases, but we strongly encourage parents with any concerns to speak directly to the academy.

“We will always work with families to resolve issues, and believe that direct conversation with the school, rather than through the media, is the most constructive way to do that.”

The parent said he had since returned to TopMarks Schoolwear in Ashton, where he claimed the longest skirts available were around 20 inches, which would still not fall below his daughters’ knees.

He also pointed to a photograph in the uniform section of the academy’s website, which he said showed a female pupil wearing a skirt several inches above the knee.

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“This is not an army camp. They’re treating them like soldiers, but they are children, they need an education. It feels like punishment.”

Denton Community Academy’s website says its uniform policy is intended to “set an appropriate tone for education”. It says the uniform provides “a sense of belonging and identity for all students”, while also being “comfortable” and allowing pupils to be themselves.

The policy also prohibits make-up, hoodies and jewellery, as well as “writing on hands or arms for any reason”.

It states: “We do not exclude students for wearing jewellery, having mobile phones or any other breaches of this policy. We will, however, always ask students to rectify the issue that we have raised. These are reasonable requests.”