‘Rules are in place for a reason and letting a child be exempt from them sets them up to fail’

A Blackpool dad who accused a high school of showing ‘no common sense’ after his daughter was placed in isolation over the shoes she was wearing has attracted some sympathy from the public, while others see the need to always enforce the rules whatever the situation.

Paul Warburton’s daughter Jessica, a Year 10 pupil at Montgomery High School in Bispham, developed severe blisters on the backs of her heels after new shoes rubbed so badly that it was too painful for her to walk in them.

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

Jean Beavers said after reading of the situation: “They are not shoes , they are trainers. We had to wear our uniform correctly” and Becky Dosky said: “Rules are in place for a reason and letting a child/teenager think they should or could be exempt from them sets them up to fail.

“School is not only for education it also sets routine and boundaries which are implemented in most work places where uniforms and certain types of footwear need to be worn.

“If in younger years these guidelines rules call them what you will aren’t adhered to, that individual will challenge them throughout adulthood.”

But Malcolm Turrill sympathised with the family, saying: “Many parents find it difficult enough to get their child to attend school in the first place, so why do schools seem to want to make it even more difficult?

“Yes, there are policies regarding school uniforms, however, some common scene, and flexibility should be used when enforcing it. Even official government guidance states 'While individual governing boards set their own dress codes, statutory guidance requires schools to be considerate and accommodate practical, financial, and personal circumstances.'

“If a child attends school wearing all their correct school uniform apart from one item then why isolate them?

“In this case, the young lady even had a note from her parents to explain why she wasn't wearing her school shoes.

“Schools also have strict behaviour policies, however, they never seem as quick to enforce those policies to protect children from bullying.”