A mother has complained after her daughter was sent home from school for having the wrong-coloured stitching on her shoes.

Stacey Pearson had to go and get changed for having pink stitching on black shoes in a new uniform purge by Ashford Christ Church school.

Her mother Tracey Ring said: "This is so petty. It is absolutely disgusting that pupils should be sent home and miss an afternoon of schooling for wearing the wrong shoes.

"How does what they wear make any difference to the way they are taught?"

Stacey, of Jupiter Lane, Kingsnorth, returned home on Monday, with a letter from her form tutor, even though she has been wearing the shoes since September.

But the 13-year-old’s family received a newsletter detailing a stricter policy at the start of the recent half-term holiday.

The message read: "After half term we will be monitoring closely the standard of uniform and reserve the right to send students home to change into correct uniform."

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Miss Ring, 37, went with Stacey back to the school that Monday to discuss the matter. She said it then decided they were acceptable and allowed her to return next day.

Head teacher Catherine Barber said: "Yes, it’s back-to-basics stuff but I am a strong believer in the benefits of school uniform. It’s a fair and practical policy and my team and I are more than happy to speak to individual families about any particular issues.

"Overall, the vast majority are backing the steps we’re taking to raise standards and ultimately achievement."

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