A teenager who survived meningitis as a child has been barred from normal classes because her shoes do not fit school rules.

Shannon Hesford, a pupil at Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College, was left with flat feet and knock-knees after she was left weakened by the disease she contracted as a baby.

The 13-year-old, who is an A-grade pupil and wants to be a surgeon, has to wear specially-prescribed insoles in shoes that can be laced tightly.

When she outgrew her old shoes mum Racheal Hesford unsuccessfully scoured shoe shops looking for a suitable pair of black lace-ups, and finally ended up buying a pair of black training shoes.

But so far this week Shannon, who has regular physiotherapy at St Luke’s Hospital, has been kept out of class, made to write out rules and copy out a science book in ‘The Unit’ isolated from classmates, said her mum.

The school says her daughter is breaking the college’s uniform etiquette. Trainers are not allowed.

The only colour the Nike shoes display is the white trademark flash, a spot of pink on the sole and on the lip which is hidden by Shannon’s trousers.

Miss Hesford said: “It was the best I could find that would fit her and hold the insoles in place. She can’t wear little dolly shoes like the other girls.

“Last year she had black lace-up trainers that were lime green on the sole and no-one said a word. So why now?” Miss Hesford added: “At parents’ night teachers told me the sky was the limit for her, so why are they doing this to her?

“School has a medical letter on file. She’s not a trouble-maker but she’s been made to feel as though she is, she’s been in floods of tears.

“Surely taking Shannon’s condition into account, common sense should win here.”

Headteacher Richard Hughes would not speak to the Telegraph & Argus about Shannon and instead e-mailed the following statement: “We have very high standards for school uniform, but we are also flexible where it is appropriate and necessary to be so.

“If students need to wear a different kind of footwear for medical conditions then they can do so, although we ask that these are plain black where this is possible.”

Miss Hesford said: “The college is not being flexible at all. If that’s the statement then why aren’t they sticking to it?”