GIRLS wearing high heel shoes were sent home from Skipton's Aireville School on Monday after ignoring a dresscode warning from their headteacher.

Around 30 pupils arriving back after the half-term break were sent away to change their footwear after donning shoes with heels in excess of two inches.

Headteacher David Croll brought in the height restriction as a new uniform regulation when he became concerned for his students' safety as they moved around his busy school.

All parents concerned were sent a letter informing them of the changes before the holiday, and were asked to toe the line by the time the school re-opened.

Most parents are happy to conform, with the new rules giving them more weight when refusing to buy the latest elevated footwear fashions inspired by idols like well-heeled Spice Girls.

Mr Croll said: "Parents appreciate the fact that the school is taking this line because it means they can resist the fashions that, at the moment, are being promoted by manufacturers.

"We sent home between 20 to 30 girls and most were back in school wearing low heeled shoes by the end of the morning.

"Before half-term all parents were sent a letter saying we were tightening up regulations about the very high heeled shoes some girls were wearing.

"Those girls who arrived on Monday and had heels of two inches high or above were sent home to change.

"It's a safety issue. The fashion has become quite unsafe and we have had a lot of support from the parents. The only complaints I've had are from those parents who, perhaps, didn't see my letter and have had too little time to come up with alternative footwear.

"You look at all the school stairs and it doesn't take a genius to realise it won't be long before someone tumbles down them.

"Alternatively we are allowing them to wear trainers until they can get lower shoes."

Although most parents are happy with the move, one dad has kept his daughter away, angry at the introduction of uniform changes near the end of the school year.

The Skipton father, who wishes not to be named to protect his daughter, said: "My daughter got sent home along with several others and she hasn't been back because we can't afford any new shoes.

"We are only weeks away from the summer holiday and it's a waste of money to start buying new uniform now. Kids grow very fast."

Despite this one voice of dissension, most parents and pupils are willing to steer away from the temptations of high street fashion for the sake of safety in school.

Pupil Amy Driver, 13, said: "I think it's a good idea to stop these heels. I'm always spraining my ankles on mine."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.