School sends 30 children home for wearing jeggings

Furious parents today condemned a school after more than 60 students were thrown out of classes on the first day of term – for wearing JEGGINGS.

Samuel Ward Arts and Technology College, in Haverhill, Suffolk, sent home 30 children wearing the tight jean leggings and placed the other half into isolation.

The school, which caters for students aged 11-18, had sent out letters to parents banning jeggings but failed to update its website with the new policy.

This meant that scores of pupils arrived for the start of term wearing the trousers in breach of the code and were promptly turned away.

One man, whose 13-year-old daughter attends the school, slammed the school’s reaction as ”crazy”.

He said: ”Loads of kids were sent home – it’s just plain stupid. It’s not always easy for parents to buy the right kind of clothing.

”It seems crazy for them to be so strict about it and leave pupils not taking part in lessons.”

Another angry parent, who also did not wish to be named, said: ”I didn’t receive a letter and I don’t know anyone who received one.

”I feel that sending that number of students home is unacceptable and that they should have given seven or 14 days notice to those who were affected to correct it, instead of sending them home without notice.

”If the school wants the students to wear a uniform then I agree with that, but don’t send them home for getting it wrong.

”Take responsibility for a problem they’re partly responsible for.”

Teachers pulled 60 pupils from class on September 3 as they returned from summer holidays to start the Autumn term.

Headteacher Howard Ley has admitted that failing to update the school website with the new dress code confused many parents.

He said: ”My leadership team noticed a few students were wearing leggings and jeggings instead if trousers last term.

”It was decided we wouldn’t stop them being worn straight away so parents would have to buy more trousers then, but we sent out a letter explaining what the uniform requirements would be after the summer.

”Around 60 turned up not wearing the right uniform. Around half were sent home to change, and the rest stayed on site and had supervised study out of their normal classes.

”Four people felt the situation had not been handled well, and I do acknowledge the website had not been updated with the information the way it should have been.

”The majority of parents have been overwhelmingly supportive of what we’re doing. They respect that it’s the school rule, and we’re reinforcing it.”