An outraged mother has claimed that a group of schoolgirls were locked in a classroom for hours on the first day of term for wearing the wrong shoes. Charlotte Byers, aged 39, alleged that her daughter Lillyanne, 13, missed lessons because her shoes had a gold and black bow on the front. Lillyanne, a year nine student at Outwood Academy Danum in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, had been wearing the same £20 slip-on shoes for the past two years.
According to Charlotte, her daughter was compelled to stay in the room on the first day of term and was only allowed to attend lessons after changing into a pair of shoes provided by the school. Charlotte mentioned that other students who refused to wear the alternative school shoes were also left in the room for four hours without a toilet break. The school, however, denied that anyone had been locked in classrooms and stated that its uniform policy has remained unchanged since the previous year.
Charlotte expressed her frustration, stating that the school had purchased a batch of shoes despite claiming to have no funding. She highlighted that the enforced shoes were either too small or uncomfortable for the girls. Charlotte described a chaotic scene where the students were searched rigorously upon arrival. She criticised the handling of the situation, particularly on the first day of school for many students, emphasizing the stress it caused.
The mother recounted being informed about a new uniform policy prohibiting any detailing on shoes, just the night before the start of term. She mentioned her request for Lillyanne to wear the shoes for the rest of the year was denied. Charlotte expressed concern that some parents might struggle to afford new shoes for their children. She underscored the importance of acknowledging the current cost of living crisis and urged the school to reconsider its approach for the remainder of the school year.
In response, a spokesperson for Outwood Academy Danum clarified that the uniform policy had not changed and had been communicated to all parents over the summer, with a reminder sent in July. The school reiterated its commitment to fairness, equality, and affordability for all families, offering support to students arriving in incorrect uniform by loaning them appropriate items.
Charlotte has since purchased a new pair of shoes for Lillyanne, but highlighted the financial burden this might pose to other families. She called for the school to apologise and consider the economic challenges faced by many. The controversy surrounding the school’s enforcement of uniform policy has sparked debate over the approach to uniform compliance and its impact on students and families.