Parents have hit out at a school’s ‘twisted’ new uniform policy – which says girls are only allowed to have 25 or fewer CURLS in their hair.
Angry parents are considering a ‘student strike’ over new Big Brother-style rules at De Warenne Academy after claims their children are going through an ‘inspection line’ every day.
Girls at the school in Conisbrough, South Yorks., are prohibited from wearing earrings or visible make-up, nail varnish, hair extensions or dying their hair any colour other than brown or black.
And boys are no longer allowed hair shaved at a number 0 or 1 standard, or with defined patterns cut into a longer style.
Incredibly, parents also claim pupils at the school have been told girls are only allowed to have 25 or fewer curls in their hair – because they are ‘too distracting’ to other youngsters.
One parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Girls are being told that if they have too many curls in their hair they will be disciplined, because they’re too distracting to the other pupils.
”I think that’s really unfair because what if you have naturally curly hair, what do you do then?”
Parents are also saying their children are also being made to go through a rigorous inspection line’ at the entrance of the school – where they claim children are made to give their bags to teachers to be searched.
A handful of parents are considering a student strike over the new rules if the school fails to ‘meet them halfway’.
Wayne Goulding, 46, whose son, Owen, attends the school, says he is also concerned about the school’s ‘strict’ discipline rules and thinks students at De Warenne are being treated “worse than the inmates at HMP Lindholme”.
Mr Goulding, a former prison worker, said: “At least at Lindholme they’re only made to show their ID badge, but the kids there are being forced to go through this inspection line. It’s like military treatment, basically.
“They’re punishing them for anything. My son was given detention for putting on a coat when it was raining, because it was blue and not black.
“The school has denied the implementation of an ‘inspection line’ but has failed to comment on the other issues.
Commenting on the accusations made by parents, executive principal at the school, Gareth Mason said: “I’d like to thank parents and carers for the support many have given to the change in the behaviour policy and the feedback given at a parents’ consultation evening.
“We want to create a culture and a friendly atmosphere in the academy where teachers are focused on talking to students about their learning, their progress and the subject being taught.
“The new behaviour policy is available on the school website – students are not being searched at the gate or anywhere else.
“We do welcome them to say good morning and greet them so they feel safe and secure in their learning environment.”
In September 2015 De Warenne Academy was slammed after they threw pupil Jordan Hartill, aged 13, out of the classroom for the classroom – because she had bows on her shoes.
