Share

Pupils turned away from Hartsdown Academy in Margate again in uniform row

Around 50 pupils were turned away at the gates by new headteacher Matthew Tate for a variety of uniform infractions.

Advertisement

A headteacher who sent more than 50 of his pupils home for wearing the wrong school uniform was branded a NAZI by some furious parents at the school gates.

New head teacher Matthew Tate, who has come to the struggling secondary from a Christian school in leafy Sevenoaks, claims to have warned parents this would happen before the summer holidays.

Among them was Sharon King, whose 11-year-old William was banned for wearing non-regulation shoes he needs for pain caused by a auto accident last year.

One of those was Year 7 student William King who was hit by a auto last September and needs to wear trainers after having a hip replacement surgery.

She posted on Facebook: “Absolutely disgusted with Hartsdown school”.

Mother Latasha Whiting hit out at the school after her 15-year-old daughter was shunned at the gates for wearing the wrong skirt and shoes.

One girl was left with bleeding feet after being forced to remove her socks, while another was turned away for wearing trainers to prevent hip pain after being involved in an accident. “I rang the school, who were extremely rude, and they said she’s not allowed in because of unacceptable uniform, which I might add cost me a small fortune”.

After their children returned home, many in tears, the parents stormed the school and protested outside for two hours, the Telegraph reported.

Mr Hopper also said that Kim will be wearing exactly the same outfit for school tomorrow, and if she is sent home again, a formal letter will be required explaining the decision.

Numerous parents said they were bewildered by the items branded contraband, as they had been allowed at the school previously.

“I will be putting a formal complaint in and urge all the other parents who witnessed the riot this morning please to do the same”.

“The majority of our parents are pleased with that”.

“They feel the school needs to be better for their children and I’ve had several parents tell me how pleased they are that they can see that actually, we want to be different”, he said.

“However I am standing by our children and parents who want to be at a school that has a reputation for being a good school not a reputation for being a scruffy school”.

“A few have lost their temper”.

The academy’s on site police community support officer called in colleagues to help resolve the conflict.

A parent said: “I think this has been handled badly especially the head teacher being so strict with the children”.

The head insists he wrote to parents to say staff would be “ensuring the uniform policy is adhered to” – but angry parents say they had no idea rules were changing.

A police spokesman said: “At 11.03am police received a report of a disturbance at an educational establishment in George V Avenue, Margate”.

Advertisement

Kent Police confirmed they attended the scene just after 11am, but no offences were disclosed.

Parents clash with police at school gates as 50 students sent home on first day of school over uniform