Terasa Groves with son Oliver, 11, who was sent home from school for wearing the wrong shoes.

by Gerry Warren

An 11-year-old boy who suffers from dyspraxia and cannot tie his own laces was sent home from school because he was wearing the wrong kind of shoes.

Oliver Groves was given his marching orders, along with around 20 other pupils, at the Whitstable Community College, on the first day on the new term after falling foul of its newly re-enforced school uniform policy.

But Oliver’s mother, Terasa Groves, is furious that his black Clarks shoes, which have sticky straps instead of laces, were deemed unsuitable. She says he wore them last term without complaint.

She had to collect her son from the school on Monday.

Speaking from her home in Newton Road, Whitstable, she said: “I think the school’s treatment of Oliver has been disgusting. He is on record as being one of the most well-behaved children with a 99 per cent attendance record. Being sent home has really upset him and me.

“He has to wear shoes which have straps because of his disability, but they are plain, black ones from Clarks and were quite expensive. I bought them for him last September and he has been wearing them without any problems.

“But I was told by one of the deputy heads that they were not allowed because they resemble trainers and are known as 'strainers’ – but it’s not a term I have heard of before.

“When I said I didn’t have any suitable alternatives for him, I was told he would have to go home.”

Head teacher Helena Sullivan-Tighe said: “The college’s summer uniform is available for students to wear from this term. This has been the same policy for the past three years.

“All students were reminded in mini school assemblies before the Easter holidays about expectations. All parents were also written to as a reminder.

“The uniform policy is adhered to by the overwhelming majority of students and those who have forgotten articles of uniform this week have been given the opportunity to put them right by phoning home.

“A small number of students have been educated separately for not conforming with the policy. The majority of these students fully understand the need for all students to wear our uniform and to pursue high standards within the school.”

For more reaction, read this week's Whitstable Gazette.

What do you think? Write to Whitstable Gazette, 5-8 Boorman Way, Estuary View Business Park, Whitstable, CT5 3SE or emailwhitstablegazette@thekmgroup.co.uk