Girls falls foul of uniform standards at Bradford school (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Girls falls foul of uniform standards at Bradford school
7:50am Thursday 9th September 2010 in
A teenager who turned up for the first day of school was told her hair was too purple.
Fourteen-year-old Keeley Nelson returned to Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College for the start of term sporting a new colour but it did not win admiration from school staff.
Keeley’s mother, Donna Wilton, 32, who has three other children at the school, said her daughter was upset when she returned home prematurely yesterday morning.
She said: “Her brother was with her when the teacher pulled her to one side on the way in and said her hair was not appropriate. She told her to sit down near reception but she came home.”
Keeley’s mother dyed her hair after paying £10 for her to have a trim at the weekend. The colour of the £5 do-it-yourself kit was advertised as ‘violet’ but Miss Wilton said she believed there was nothing shocking about it.
She said: “It’s not like it stands out. It’s not bright. It’s a really dark purple. A lot of people have said it looks black. She was going to go for a red colour but I said that was over the top. Either way I don’t know what difference it makes to their learning.”
She said she had not heard anything from school staff since Keeley returned home and was trying to speak to someone in authority at the school this morning.
She said: “I only dyed it on Saturday and I’ve got to leave it for six weeks. What is she going to do if she can’t go to school? She should be knuckling down for her GCSEs.”
The appearance of pupils is grabbing attention at Buttershaw at the start of term. Skirts have been banned and girls must wear trousers instead.
Head teacher Richard Hughes said: “We have established very high standards of uniform at Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College. This year, we have asked girls to wear trousers. This is already proving very successful with 99 per cent of girls looking smart in trousers this morning.
“If students wear incorrect uniform, we make arrangements with parents for the students either to go home to change into the right uniform or, alternatively, to work in our ‘Green Room’ until the issue is resolved.
“We extend our high standards in uniform to general appearance and take time to reinforce this with our students. We welcome discussions with parents about this if the need arises.”
Comments(27)
mad matt
says...
8:31am Thu 9 Sep 10
It would be nice if the teachers concentrated as much on doing the job they are paid to do - - - TEACH!
SRS74
says...
8:39am Thu 9 Sep 10
The girls trying to out shock each other by wearing the shortest skirt possible. Boys with ties knotted half way down the front etc etc,
the school sets a policy of standards in order to keep everyone the same. It is disciplined, something that the teachers are forever losing and keeps getting mentioned here.
Standards of dress have an impact on a childs learning. Look at schools such as bradford grammar, bingley grammar etc.
If you do something to your hair, body or clothing in order to stand out from the rest, you cannot expect the school to accept this.
Sugar75
says...
9:11am Thu 9 Sep 10
I think they should be concentrating on her education and learning instead of her hair colour, which is FAB by the way. At least she has turned up to school! I dont see a problem in it myself, She's wearing the correct uniform isn't she?!
Get her into Bradford Academy which is a brilliant school that lets their pupils express themselves.
Tiberius Kirk
says...
9:31am Thu 9 Sep 10
Natalie/Bussey
says...
9:37am Thu 9 Sep 10
Natalie/Bussey
says...
10:32am Thu 9 Sep 10
Half a year got pda's last term and everyone that got them are on bloody f/b in school when they should be learning its a bloody joke seems to me kids that dont want to do anything with there lifes get everything and the ones that do want to go far get naff all
Bone_idle18
says...
12:40pm Thu 9 Sep 10
No surprise society is going to Hell in a handcart.
Every generation shows less of a respect the other people and rules. It may seem trivial but this is exactly the sort of lack of respect of rules and authority that make people think they can get away with anything.
Donnawil
says...
12:48pm Thu 9 Sep 10
gsxr 78
says...
3:01pm Thu 9 Sep 10
lanzaman
says...
4:13pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Bone_idle18 wrote:Whilst I agree with you on this, I can't help thinking, if she had dyed her hair blonde, it would have gone unnoticed. So its purely down to the colour, which is not offensive. Still I believe give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile. I remmeber when I went to that school 30 some years ago, we didnt have to wear uniform! It was in place, but not compulsory
There used to be a time when rules were respected and children breaking them were punished by the school and then again by their parents. Now it seems the lack of respect shown by most kids comes directly from the parents. No surprise society is going to Hell in a handcart. Every generation shows less of a respect the other people and rules. It may seem trivial but this is exactly the sort of lack of respect of rules and authority that make people think they can get away with anything.
NikkiH378
says...
6:18pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Mike Strutter
says...
6:40pm Thu 9 Sep 10
bullsfan58
says...
6:45pm Thu 9 Sep 10
when she went there they seemed more concerned over whether she was wearing correct uniform and not their education. yes I believe in school uniform but the colour this young lass has isnt that bright if it had been bright pink themn maybe they were right to complain about it. come on you teachers up there you are supposed to be intelligent people use some commonsense. it is ridiculous . you are there to educate the kids not pick on them for the colour of their hair.......PATHETIC
Donnawil
says...
9:40pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Mike Strutter wrote:Where on any off the comments been made that my friends have said it's black?? Mike strutter!
Donna. I suggest you get your friends to get their eyes tested as her hair doesn't look black. Nowhere near lol !
Donnawil
says...
9:46pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Mike Strutter
says...
10:28pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Donnawil wrote:OK, I am wrong on a technicality.
It's say that in the article that a lot of people said it looked black not that any of my friends have said that! Just like it is not red as the school said it was! An that's why she got sent home! Beacause my daughters hair was red! When clearly it is a dark shade of purple! But thank you all for the support :-)
Now you've gone and bleated to the papers let's hope your daughter is supported by her peers when she returns rather than have the mickey taken out of her.
Let's face it they will take the mickey out of the shocking spelling and grammar that her mum has used on this site.
You've had your 15 minutes of fame now love............taxi for Donna !!
Donnawil
says...
10:39pm Thu 9 Sep 10
Nic10
says...
12:04am Fri 10 Sep 10
Donnawil
says...
12:30am Fri 10 Sep 10
birday
says...
7:26am Fri 10 Sep 10
Donnawil wrote:You knew the rules and you broke them! You stuck 2 fingers up at authority and now you don't like the response and some of the attention you're getting. Deal with it and behave then the teachers can get on with the important job of teaching the children so they have choices in life about what they do and where they go! Your jobs to get your kids focusing on their work rather than their appearance. We need to stop the nonsense behaviour going on in our young peoples world. Deal with the parents and the children will be no problem!
Thank you Tiberius kirk for the complement lol! Took my daughter into the school myself this morning to be told by the deputy head that my daughters hair was not inapropriate after all even though the 1st teacher that clapped eyes on her said it was. What does it matter what colour hair or underwear they wear as long as they in uniform an actually go to school it's really stupid that teachers have a say on what are children can an cannot wear or look like in school they ain't the parents of our children we are an they need to rember that! Thanks to all of you for the support :-)
birday
says...
7:28am Fri 10 Sep 10
gsxr 78 wrote:With a mother like this the childs doomed!
I wish her well and hope she gets a better education than Donnawil.
birday
says...
7:38am Fri 10 Sep 10
NikkiH378 wrote:There are standards and rules about behaviour in all our schools and you and your parent/s knew what these were but chose to interprete them to your own ends. The behaviour unit was the right place for you to be. Your behaviour needed checking and it was important that it's did not disturb young people's learning. Thesee standards and rules exist for a reason and it's really important that we all respect and follow them because they make the world a better place to be. If you've got a problem with them use the forums in school for agreeing and changing them - breaking them isn't the answer.
It's Pathetic. I was taken to the 'Behavior Unit' today because i have red hair! I was told that i wasn't allowed to go to my normal lessons until my hair was a 'natural' colour. I'm in a GCSE year, so i shouldn't be missing any of my lessons, but unfortunatly my hair was 'too red' for me to go to my science and english lesson :|. This was ridiculous! I contacted my parent, after a discussion with one of the teachers, i eventually returned to my lessons. However, if my hair isn't a normal colour after the weekend, I will be once again taken out of my lessons and put in the Unit, until my hair is natural :/
birday
says...
7:38am Fri 10 Sep 10
NikkiH378 wrote:There are standards and rules about behaviour in all our schools and you and your parent/s knew what these were but chose to interprete them to your own ends. The behaviour unit was the right place for you to be. Your behaviour needed checking and it was important that it's did not disturb young people's learning. Thesee standards and rules exist for a reason and it's really important that we all respect and follow them because they make the world a better place to be. If you've got a problem with them use the forums in school for agreeing and changing them - breaking them isn't the answer.
It's Pathetic. I was taken to the 'Behavior Unit' today because i have red hair! I was told that i wasn't allowed to go to my normal lessons until my hair was a 'natural' colour. I'm in a GCSE year, so i shouldn't be missing any of my lessons, but unfortunatly my hair was 'too red' for me to go to my science and english lesson :|. This was ridiculous! I contacted my parent, after a discussion with one of the teachers, i eventually returned to my lessons. However, if my hair isn't a normal colour after the weekend, I will be once again taken out of my lessons and put in the Unit, until my hair is natural :/
Donnawil
says...
8:31am Fri 10 Sep 10
birday wrote:Birday there is no policy stating that children cannot go to school with hair dye in there hair! And how can you say I am a bad mother you dont even know me! If I was a bad mum then I would let my children stay off school and not bother going in at all but I don't I want my children to have a good education so how does that make me a bad mum?
gsxr 78 wrote:With a mother like this the childs doomed!
I wish her well and hope she gets a better education than Donnawil.
Mike Strutter
says...
11:44am Fri 10 Sep 10
Donnawil wrote:Donna, apologies if I offended you earlier, yes I was rude so sorry for that
birday wrote:Birday there is no policy stating that children cannot go to school with hair dye in there hair! And how can you say I am a bad mother you dont even know me! If I was a bad mum then I would let my children stay off school and not bother going in at all but I don't I want my children to have a good education so how does that make me a bad mum?
gsxr 78 wrote:With a mother like this the childs doomed!
I wish her well and hope she gets a better education than Donnawil.
Your daughters hair isn't too bad in my opinion but if they are the rules then they are the rules. Your daughter chose to walk out don't forget and where would we be if all kids did that when they didn't agree with the teacher ? Interesting though how you went to the paper before you spoke to the school or council .
I have seen worse hair cuts when passing the school but why choose to embarrass your girl by having her plastered over the paper ?
I think you were naive even allowing her to pose for the shot.
I like to think I am a good parent and in my world I would not allow my child to be in the paper like this.
Sort it out with the school adult to adult and proprotect your child from further embarrassment .
Donnawil
says...
6:45pm Fri 10 Sep 10
Mike Strutter wrote:I contacted the school the morning this happened an was told there was noone to speak to! I also rang again a futher 3 times and got no joy! I also went down to the school and was to to go home and someone would contact me and the school never did I rang the local mp and Bradford education and got no joy so that's why I went to the papers! To show people that the school does not cooperate with parents! It took all this for the school to actually do something an I do agree with you my daughter should not have walked out of school and she was told by me and her dad that rules are rules an everyone as to live by them if we like it or not I even supported the school when they told Keeley she hade to spend the morning in isolation for walking out of the school! But it's just ashame the school could nit do the same for me I am just happy that my daughter is back in school where she needs to be to get a good education.
Donnawil wrote:Donna, apologies if I offended you earlier, yes I was rude so sorry for that
birday wrote:Birday there is no policy stating that children cannot go to school with hair dye in there hair! And how can you say I am a bad mother you dont even know me! If I was a bad mum then I would let my children stay off school and not bother going in at all but I don't I want my children to have a good education so how does that make me a bad mum?
gsxr 78 wrote:With a mother like this the childs doomed!
I wish her well and hope she gets a better education than Donnawil.
Your daughters hair isn't too bad in my opinion but if they are the rules then they are the rules. Your daughter chose to walk out don't forget and where would we be if all kids did that when they didn't agree with the teacher ? Interesting though how you went to the paper before you spoke to the school or council .
I have seen worse hair cuts when passing the school but why choose to embarrass your girl by having her plastered over the paper ?
I think you were naive even allowing her to pose for the shot.
I like to think I am a good parent and in my world I would not allow my child to be in the paper like this.
Sort it out with the school adult to adult and proprotect your child from further embarrassment .
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Keeley Nelson with mum Donna
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Helter Skelter says...
8:21am Thu 9 Sep 10