My daughter had to wear different shoes to school for a medical reason, so they put her in isolation

A frustrated Blackpool dad has accused a high school of showing ‘no common sense’ after his daughter was placed in isolation for wearing trainers to school because of painful blisters caused by new shoes.

Paul Warburton’s daughter, Jessica Warburton, is in Year 10 at Montgomery High School in Bispham and developed severe blisters on the backs of her heels after her new shoes rubbed so badly that they left open wounds, making it too painful for her to walk in them.

But rather than being allowed to wear a temporary alternative while her feet healed, Jessica was removed from her lessons and spent two days in isolation with other pupils for breaching school rules.

Paul, of Buckdean Avenue is angry at the school’s decision, explaining that his main issue lies with the fact that his daughter was missing out on learning ‘over a pair of trainers.’

He said: “There is no common sense. They even asked us to provide medical evidence - the GP wouldn’t give us an appointment. They could have looked at the blisters - they were massive; the shoes had rubbed holes and she has to walk two miles a day to and from school. It was just for a couple of days whilst they healed.”

Paul says he tried to do the right thing by sending Jessica in black trainers, chosen to look as close as possible to the school’s required footwear, along with a note explaining that her feet were injured.

But instead of an understanding response, he received a phone call from school to say Jessica had been put into isolation.

“I did speak to one teacher who I found aggressive and rude. We adhere to the school uniform policy but on this occasion she was in too much pain preventing her to wear the shoes.

Jessica is in the final two years of her high school education, edging her way to her GCSEs and Paul is particularly concerned about the impact of missing lessons at such an important stage of her education.

“She has missed a lot of work,” said Paul. “She was given a piece of work to do that was like the old ‘lines’. I tried to get an appointment at the GP to get the blisters verified but they wouldn’t give us an appointment. I get it - they are stretched and appointments are for emergencies. School should have taken my word for it.”

The family did manage to obtain a slip stamped by the doctors’ surgery, confirming they had attempted to secure an appointment. Jessica delivered it to school, by hand, along with a letter of complaint to school governors from her dad. Paul also claimed Jessica was marked unauthorised when she went to the doctor.

He said: “It’s ridiculous. Is a child’s education more important [than] a power issue [and making] a child sit in isolation?’

Montgomery High School was approached for comment.