A young girl was banned from lessons over a ‘tiny’ uniform choice that could see her mum lose her job.
Lucille Gent went back to Magnus Church of England Academy in Nottingham after the May half-term wearing some stud earrings, but this landed her in isolation when she was told it went against uniform policy.
Her mum Helen said the 14-year-old was refused back into class after explaining they would need to stay in for six to eight weeks to heal and avoid the risk of infection.
So, she took her daughter out of lessons for five days to homeschool her before returning the following week wearing plastic studs.
Apparently, there was no uniform check again and nothing happened until the new school year started.
Then, Helen got a letter from the school saying because Lucille was absent for five days, they could take court action – jeopardising the mum’s employment.
The mum is now waiting for a court date (SWNS)
She received another fining her £60 if paid within 28 days or £120 if not paid within that period for ‘unauthorised absences’.
The taxi driver said: “I said I'm not going to pay, because I didn't take her out of lessons, that was the school's choice and I have now received a court summons for criminal action.
“I took her to school to register for classes every single day of those five days, and they refused to let her into class.
“It was not a case of me taking her on holiday, I took her in and they refused her. How is that an unauthorised absence?
"It is just a massive overreaction - I could end up with a criminal record here all over a pair of earrings.”
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Helen added how Lucille is a ‘straight A student’ and other than this has a ‘100 percent attendance’.
Now, it’s in the hands of Nottinghamshire County Council Prosecution Service and the mum will be taken to court. If she loses, she’ll land a criminal record which could affect her current and future employment.
She was apparently homeschooled for five days (SWNS)
Currently holding a clear DBS check, she explained: “If I then have a criminal record, I would have to ask permission from Newark and Sherwood District Council to set that aside so that I can continue my work as a taxi driver.
“If they decide not to do that, I would be unemployed — this is absolutely ridiculous.”
Helen is now waiting to hear back from her solicitor and the date for her court case.
Previously blasting the school’s uniform policy, she said: "I could not believe they were happy for her education to suffer just for wearing a single pair of tiny stud earrings.
"A Victorian-style dictatorial, authoritarian policy, using strict military discipline across a standard state school, that reinforces 'do what I say and not what I do', is not the best way to get the most out of children."
And the school’s spokesperson said: “Our uniform standards are clear and available on our website.
“These have not changed in over six years, and reminders are sent home frequently throughout the year. On rare occasions, and where individuals do arrive at school having not followed our uniform policy, we always give them an opportunity to correct this.
"If they do not, or cannot correct their uniform, we provide work, along with full teacher support, for them to complete elsewhere within the school. We do not exclude for uniform breaches, and work with families to resolve them quickly.”
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