Girl in Union Jack dress sent home on diversity day

I am not unconvinced on reading the BBC article that either the speech or the wearing of the dress was motivated by any sincere reflection on the merits of diversity….but those in charge at that school really need to give their heads a good wobble.
Yes Allira I do nowdays think that these petty rules and regulations (eg keep to the left in corridors or face a sanction) or archaic insistence regarding uniforms and tyes, hairstyles etc are just a proxy for providing a thorough basic education.

In short schools need to grow up, realise that this is 2025 not 1925 and should reflect how people dress and act in real life.

More votes for Reform! That school have just kicked themselves right in the foot.

Absolutely Galaxy

I assume that a sanction that serious came from the Head, hopefully not without careful consideration. So, for what reason would the Head then turn round and apologise?

Primrose53

Last week a school leaver was banned from attending her school prom at a local school.

It seems she was also a good, popular student but her attendance had not been very good in recent months for medical reasons. School had warned kids that if they did not attend a certain amount of days they would not be allowed to attend the Prom. She had evidence to prove her medical reasons but school still banned her.

She decided to turn up for the prom anyway but was not allowed in. Her dress cost her parents £130!

I thought it very unfair.

Why are some school staff so petty these days?

Is it because they are afraid to tackle the real problems which are happening in schools now?

Primrose53

Doodledog

What has the fact that she is a 'Grade A' student got to do with it?

I don't see why the incident should define her throughout her school career - if it does it will be because her father went to the press with the story, though. I wonder whether he was behind the speech in the first place?

I agree that British culture is valuable, and lament the fact that far right groups have hijacked the Union Jack (and the England flag in particular - the flags of the other home nations are still seen as acceptable), but I'd be interested to learn whether there is more to this than meets the eye.

Regarding your second para Doodledog just a few days ago coincidentally I posted about a lad I went to grammar school with who got kicked out because his mother gave him a very severe haircut. It was the time of the skinheads so I guess the Headmaster thought he would be trouble.

I met him many years later and still see him occasionally and that stayed with him all his life because it was unfair, he was humiliated and was estranged from all his schoolmates.

I wonder whether he was behind the speech in the first place?

Perhaps but if so, it was a very good speech and inclusive too.

Why should there have to be a back story? This story is big enough and, in fact important enough to precipitate debate.

Last week a school leaver was banned from attending her school prom at a local school.

It seems she was also a good, popular student but her attendance had not been very good in recent months for medical reasons. School had warned kids that if they did not attend a certain amount of days they would not be allowed to attend the Prom. She had evidence to prove her medical reasons but school still banned her.

She decided to turn up for the prom anyway but was not allowed in. Her dress cost her parents £130!

I thought it very unfair.

"So let’s celebrate all cultures — whether they come from far away or right here at home."
FairIsleCable it's a great speech, well thought out and inclusive too. She should be proud of herself.

'Your attire must reflect your nationality or family heritage'
I would say she nailed it.

I should add - My DS would not be going to the press over this.
He would just be interested in what is happening at school, was a school governor at the primary school and is not a disinterested father.

Doodledog

Exactly, Granmarderby. I wonder if the girl is being used. I can't imagine my father getting involved in something like that, and if Mr Dog had gone to the press because one of ours had been sent home there would have been 'words spoken' .

My father wouldn't but I'm sure my son would, he's a very interested and hands-on Dad.

I think many young fathers are interested in what is happening in their children's lives, more so than previous generations.

But to be honest. So what. I suspect dad is tricky and that's an understatement but that obviously should have no impact on how we behave towards a child.
When women were fighting institutions around gender ideology we absolutely used whatever press would listen to us. If institutions don't want bad press try not to behave like fools.

In my decades of working in education I learnt that having good grades doesn't prove good behaviour, and absolutely nothing would 'obviously' mean that someone had never been in trouble, so no, I couldn't work it out. Apart from my own work experience, I remember a girl in my daughter's class who was a bully and a disrupter of lessons. Her mum was a friend of mine who just wouldn't believe the things she did on the grounds that she was an 'A student'. My daughter witnessed it (including a stand-in teacher being reduced to tears by her) and confirmed that it was all true and there was more that the school didn't know.

That's a shame about the boy with the haircut. I'm not in favour of schools dictating things like that, and despair at the hypocrisy of sending children with the wrong haircut or shoes home and fining parents who take them on holiday, but I know others feel differently. All the same, most parents don't go to the press about their children's suspensions. If anything is going to make the incident cling to her it was that.

I'm not saying I think the school was right, but I would be more than surprised if this is the whole story.

Oh and Doodledog the A grade student comment obviously means she is a good kid and never been in trouble. Surely you could have worked that out yourself.😉

Doodledog

What has the fact that she is a 'Grade A' student got to do with it?

I don't see why the incident should define her throughout her school career - if it does it will be because her father went to the press with the story, though. I wonder whether he was behind the speech in the first place?

I agree that British culture is valuable, and lament the fact that far right groups have hijacked the Union Jack (and the England flag in particular - the flags of the other home nations are still seen as acceptable), but I'd be interested to learn whether there is more to this than meets the eye.

Regarding your second para Doodledog just a few days ago coincidentally I posted about a lad I went to grammar school with who got kicked out because his mother gave him a very severe haircut. It was the time of the skinheads so I guess the Headmaster thought he would be trouble.

I met him many years later and still see him occasionally and that stayed with him all his life because it was unfair, he was humiliated and was estranged from all his schoolmates.

What absolute nonsense and I do hope that soon we are able to celebrate our pride in our country as we always could in the past.

Liloldlady, which of the countries you listed do not share values such as justice and fair play?
I made no reference to flags, so I'm not clear why you are asking me about them.

valdavi

I don't blame her running to the press. If the school had an ounce of sense thay would have realised that sending her home might end up as a headline.
If it compromised what students had been asked to do for diversity day (maybe it did) then it could've been dealt with in a less draconian way.

Do we know if her or the Dad ran to the press? I don’t blame him if he did because she is apparently a good kid and never been in trouble. If I was at work and contacted to collect my child for wearing that dress to a diversity day I would not be pleased. It could have been another parent or student who contacted the press I guess.

My son said he heard another lad got sent home because he wore a flat cap and a tweed jacket.

It was a celebration of Culture Day, and she did what was required; produced a speech dealing with her culture. She was most unfairly treated, as the school has now acknowledged.

Once schools would use suspension only for the most serious offences. This was not one, and it would be interesting to know what prompted that decision, and who made it.

I don't blame her running to the press. If the school had an ounce of sense thay would have realised that sending her home might end up as a headline.
If it compromised what students had been asked to do for diversity day (maybe it did) then it could've been dealt with in a less draconian way.

This is so stupid. We have in Great Britain, should be celebrated. I once went to a church with similar dress and nobody threw me out. Well, they did not befriend me but at least left me to be

the Father did everyone a favour by exposing it I agree Oreo.

I think the poster is excellent. Would it make chocolatelovinggran happier if the Swedish, Danish, Spanish etc. flags were added? Can't see any other countries speaking up for our values and cultures.

Jaxjacky

I agree with you Doodledog probably a back story and is this a good lesson to teach your daughter, running to the press?
I await other parents following suit.
The school have apologised, that should be enough

If they hadn’t told the press then the school would have continued with their prissy wokery so the Father did everyone a favour by exposing it.

Are afternoon tea and fish & chips prevalent in other cultures? I can't think where.

She's a young girl trying to articulate how she feels being British. Of course there are attributes that are common among many cultures, but she's what? 11 - 12? I thought she did well and the school have now made a big mountain out of a small molehill.

V3ra

Her speech is very well written and spot on.

As a childminder I am supposed to promote Great British Values.
We have this poster, which I added the flag details to, on the wall in the hall.
It prompts a lot of conversation!

l don't understand why "Wrong" is a British Value. Anyone explain?