'Power trip' school berated over uniform crackdown

Dozens of pupils have been kept in a school hall for a day for breaching uniform policy.

Fareham Academy said the action on Monday was not a punishment but a way of correcting issues without disrupting lessons.

New head teacher Randall Jull, who took over in May, said parents had been warned the existing school uniform policy was about to be better enforced.

However, some parents have accused the school of being on a "power trip" over "minor infringements".

Posting on Facebook, one parent complained about the "bullying and embarrassing behaviour of the teachers standing at the school gates... picking up these children over petty things like zips, tightness, length of trousers".

Another said: "My child was in correct uniform. The trousers were brought in the smart wear section and were labelled trousers. Because she did not have pockets at the front she was refused entry into the gates."

However, another poster commented: "Uniforms are there for many reasons and should be adhered to."

More than 100 people have signed an online petition over the school's uniform and toilet access policies.

The petition said: "Reports that pupils are being removed from lessons or excluded from learning opportunities due to minor uniform infringements raise concerns about proportionality and the impact on their education."

Head teacher Jull said he had discovered "some expectations of the school had drifted" when he took up his post.

He said he had written to parents before half-term warning the existing policy would be more strictly enforced.

Jull said 40 pupils were taken to the hall for wearing trainers or leggings and about 15 to 20 remained there until the end of the day.

He said: "There was no intent to punish these children, they weren't in detention.

"We're 24 hours on from it now, everybody's back in class, the end has been achieved.

"I do understand from a parent's perspective, if you've been challenged it's confusing. However, I do think it was well communicated in advance."

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