Winter shoe dispute at Nottingham's Carlton Le Willows school
A MUM has called on schools to show "common sense" in wintry weather after her daughter was ticked off over her footwear.
Ann Clayton's daughter Katie, 15, had gone to Carlton le Willows Academy in shoes with thicker soles and grips to avoid slipping on icy pavements.
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Footwear: Schoolgirl Katie Clayton, 15, was told to wear proper school shoes, in spite of the icy pavements.
But she was ticked off by a teacher on Tuesday, and says she was warned she would be taught in isolation if she wore them again the next day.
The academy, in Gedling, has since relaxed its uniform policy regarding footwear.
Mrs Clayton, 47, of Colwick, said she was happy the school had done so, but added: "It all could have been avoided if the school had realised how bad the conditions were.
"I know of other schools where there have been similar problems. They need to show more common sense.
"I'm all for smart uniforms, but schools sometimes need to realise that bad weather can lead to the need for more sensible footwear."
A memo placed on the academy's website following the incident told parents that normal footwear rules had been suspended until the end of the week, instead recommending that students wear appropriate footwear.
It followed Mrs Clayton receiving a call from the school informing her that Katie's shoes weren't allowed.
She said: "I couldn't believe it. Katie has to walk down a very icy pathway to catch the bus. For that reason she went in a pair of black shoes which were better designed for this weather.
"I don't see what the problem was. It's not as if they were luminous. They were black and smart. Her normal shoes just aren't right for these conditions."
The academy's uniform regulations state that shoes should be plain black, flat and polished. They must not be patent or suede. Katie's were black with a white sole.
However, in a note on the academy's website, head teacher Craig Weaver said school's rules on footwear have been suspended until Friday February, 10, 2012.
Mr Weaver told the Post all staff had been informed of the temporary change to policy.
He added: "The rule on footwear at the academy is quite simple and the vast majority of pupils wear black, flat shoes which are suitable for all-year-round conditions, even the cold snap we have experienced this week.
"We would recommend to parents, however, that if their child's school shoes are not sufficiently robust enough to cope with the current extreme icy surfaces on the journey to and from school that they advise their child to wear more appropriate footwear."
Several other schools in Notts, including West Bridgford School, have also relaxed their footwear policies in light of the bad weather.
22 Comments
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by Vox_Populii
Friday, February 10 2012, 6:57PM
“Haha well spotted mea culpa! But my feelings on the matter still stand.
When you look at European pupils who consistently outperform UK pupils, they're not conditioned into the rigidity of a uniformed existence to merely learn by rote to make league tables look good.
They're taught how to think, how to critically appraise things, and certainly would never be turned away from their education because they offended the sensibilities of the board of governors by not adhering to some archaic uniform policy.
Education and standards are far more important than anachronistic uniform codes.”
by ChrisBaxter
Friday, February 10 2012, 1:07PM
“Vox - I wouldn't take anything you say too seriously, you don't even know what year it is.It's good to see parents supporting schools!- no wonder schools in the city and county have such a poor reputation some parents simply don't value them.”
by philstag3
Friday, February 10 2012, 12:35PM
“The teachers have got this right. The school states plain black, flat and polished.
Katie opted to go for black and white, flat and canvass shoes even though her Mum states "designed for this weather". How can they be designed for this weather?
If the change of footwear resembled anything that looked like being designed for the weather then just perhaps the teacher would have shown some empathy.”
by pissedoff1
Friday, February 10 2012, 12:32PM
“My daughters school even have a rule on what colour her elastic hair bands should be!! It is absolutley ridicoulous!”
by BLawrenson
Friday, February 10 2012, 10:41AM
“Do my eyes deceive me or are the shoes flat soled ? If so they are likely to have very little in the way of a heavy tread suitable for snow and ice. Mind you I suppose they would be a considerable improvement on the high heels or ballet pump types of shoe I saw many young ladies struggling along in during the icy conditions”
by Vox_Populii
Thursday, February 09 2012, 9:14PM
“Perhaps the school should concentrate on that thing known as 'educating and teaching' the children, rather than being some neo-Victorian institution that insists on certain types of shoe. I mean, it's 2011 and schools still want to punish children for not being identical to each other?
And they wonder why the education system is failing.”
by amber290
Thursday, February 09 2012, 8:01PM
“Dont schools teach common sense? Not in the curriculum I guess? Still they probably glide to school in ice skates during wintery weather, only if they adhere to uniform policy of course!”
by Neo_MadBadger
Thursday, February 09 2012, 7:26PM
“I will admit to not being a footwear or ice expert but those she's wearing don't appear to have a very thick sole, hence deep tread, at all. What is wrong with Wellington boots?”
by purple1234
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:55PM
“i think the school should be more botherd about the childrens safety and a little less on how the school looks”
by EVA90
Thursday, February 09 2012, 4:38PM
“Schools these days and rules yes ok every rule is there for a purpose but there only there as basic guidelines, bend them a little when it comes to health and safety ??? yes you should look smart and be punctual be respectful and learn through your life but when it comes to safety in any conditions then surely it should just be an automatic response to adapt to this before someone gets hurt”