Girls were sent home from the Isle of Sheppey Academy for wearing tight trousers

by Emma Grove

Dozens of girls have been sent home from their school on the Isle of Sheppey today... for wearing tight trousers.

Staff at the Isle of Sheppey Academy refused to let them into their new school buildings on the first day back after half term - saying the trousers were more appropriate for a night out.

There was uproar outside the gates of the school's two sites in Sheerness and Minster as pupils were told they were not wearing the appropriate uniform. ​

"i understand school uniform is school uniform, but she's been wearing these trousers for three years..." – parent lee porter

The school said the girls' black trousers were deemed to be "too skinny".

But parents are furious, saying the uniform list they were given was no more specific than to say black trousers - and that many of their daughters had already been wearing the clothing for years.

Some parents claim hundreds of girls were sent home, although Mr Day said it was not as many as that.

It was as the children returned to school after the half-term this morning to start their education in new buildings that the problem started.

Many parents refused to take their children home and waited at the school to face teachers.

Principal David Day was adamant staff did the right thing and said the school is implementing new standards for the new buildings and that they are legally entitled to send pupils home to change.

"The problem is girls wearing very skinny trousers that are more like Saturday night trousers," he said.

Isle of Sheppey Academy pupils Megan McCarthy, Macey-Lee Tyler and Kaitlain Twitchett were sent home for wearing tight trousers

Although he admits the uniform list did not give specific details about trousers, Mr Day said staff had held assemblies before half-term about uniform standards and it was said then that leggings and drain-pipe trousers would not be acceptable.

A letter to parents said tight "fashion" trousers with belts or jeans are not allowed.

Mr Day added: "I can see why parents are upset about this, but we are on a mission to try and improve standards of behaviour, discipline, dress and attainment – it's all linked together – to make a real success of this building.

"We have given them a chance with an assembly before half-term and with a letter reinforcing the standards of uniform and it said pupils would be sent home if they breached it.

"We are adhering to standards of dress as part of our mission to improve behaviour and everything at the academy in line with the new buildings."

However, angry parents said sending pupils home was "ridiculous", will affect their future and is disgusting.

Teenagers Nicole Brown, Charis Steensel and Chloe Gill were sent home from the Isle of Sheppey Academy for wearing trousers deemed too skinny

Lee Porter's daughter Chelsea, 16, was among those sent home.

The Sheerness resident said: "I understand school uniform is school uniform, but she's been wearing these trousers for three years."

Megan McCarthy, 13, was also sent home and her mum Alison Backshall, from Rushenden, said she is fuming.

She said: "She's worn the same type of trousers for two years and now they are sending her home because they are inappropriate.

"Megan has never been pulled up on them so I didn't think there was a problem.

"I can understand if they are wearing leggings or too much make-up or inappropriate shoes, but black trousers that actually fit and are long and cover her shoes.

"I think it's an absolute joke. They are trying to change things for the good which I understand but trying to change things when there isn't a problem is unacceptable."

Shellie Edwards, from Rushenden, is furious as her daughter Hollie Skidmore, 16, is due to sit an exam tomorrow and has been told she cannot unless she gets "appropriate" trousers.

"I bought her trousers from a school shop in Sittingbourne and they are not too tight," she said. "It's ridiculous and I think it's absolutely disgraceful.

"This is her future and it's going to affect it."