Pupils miss lessons after uniform crackdown at Morden school (From Your Local Guardian)

Pupils miss lessons after uniform crackdown at Morden school

9:38am Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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Dozens of pupils were sent home yesterday morning after a Morden school enforced a uniform crackdown.

Furious parents, some of whom have had to leave work to look after them, have criticised Bishopsford Arts College in Lilleshall Road which segregated 160 pupils on arrival for breaking uniform rules.

About 30 of them were then sent home after the school telephoned their parents to ensure they could be looked after, while others were told to work seperately to pupils who were dressed correctly.

Headteacher Andrew Barker said parents had been reminded of the rules twice in recent weeks and the crackdown would continue every day until pupils were correctly dressed.

He said some students had been "pushing the rules" after they were relaxed for the summer term, when wearing blazers is not compulsory. He said most of the school's parents and pupils supported the uniform rules, and not enforcing them would penalise the majority who make the effort to follow them.

He said: "The majority of students are in lessons and getting on with learning. We are aiming to get it right from the start.

“It’s a smart but reasonable level of dress so they can take pride in their learning and themselves.”

Mr Barkersaid parents were sent a letter about uniform at the end of the summer, and pupils were reminded of the rules on Tuesday.

He said any who were missing uniform because of hardship or shop shortages were told to bring in a letter from a parent the next day explaining the situation.

Tiffany Teague who has just started her final year at the secondary school was sent home for not wearing her blazer.

Her mum Kim, who lives in Caesars Walk, Mitcham, said: "My daughter has told me they will be doing this until the students get the uniform right. It's absolutely ridiculous that the school can do this at the start of such a vital time for all the children in my daughter's year."

She said the school uniform changes in recent years were expensive to keep up with - and claimed her daughter had not been warned of the inspection the previous day, aTiffany is starting her final year at the secondary school but was sent home for not wearing her blazers the school claimed.

Bishopsford Arts College has 950 pupils and has specialist in peforming arts. Mr Barker has run the school for the past five years and is respected for the way he has improved standards and grades at the school.