School put 71 students in isolation on first day back

More than 70 pupils were put in isolation on their first day back at school for wearing the wrong uniform or having dyed hair.

Parents were contacted by Bluecoat Beechdale Academy in Bilborough, Nottingham yesterday (7 September) informing them their children were in isolation for offences including dyed hair or wearing the wrong trousers or shoes.

The school has defended its new strict policy, saying it is preparing the pupils for the world of work.

47-year-old Tracy Clarke, of Broxtowe Estate, whose 14-year-old daughter Phoebe Jackson was put in isolation because of her dyed red hair, said the school even took away her daughter’s shoes as they did not look like leather, loaning her a new pair instead.

She said:

A letter from the school informed her that her daughter would be in isolation until the hair ‘issue’ was resolved.

Carl Elder, headteacher of the school for three years, told the Post:

He said that he didn't want the school to "rest on its laurels" after its good Ofsted rating last year, but the dress code policy was about preparing students for the world of work.

He said that 71 students were put in isolation at the beginning of the first day of term, but by lunch yesterday 20 matters had resolved.

He added:

In a letter from the school yesterday, the uniform expectations were outlined, forbidding jewellery (apart from a watch), hair dye, and nail polish, and stipulating that shoes must be leather-looking and trousers should be tailored.

It added: