Where Do Parents Turn When Schools Are Behaving Badly?

"I’m usually supportive of schools and their teachers and their heads. Most parents are. But sometimes they do things that simply have to be called out. The enforcement of ludicrous and petty rules on the grounds of “ethos”, particularly when it comes to uniform, would be a prime example.

- JAMES MOORE

The latest incident to cause scandal last week was a bona fide genre classic. It was also potentially dangerous. Carrie-Anne and David Vickers, respectively the mother and stepfather of 12year-old Ruby Reid, went public after Ruby was scolded at the gates and received a breaktime detention because of a uniform violation at the Rivers Academy in west London.

Her crime? Failing to wear a sweater under her school blazer on one of the hottest days of the year. Home/hybrid workers wore T-shirts. Those in workplaces went for the coolest clothes their (often air-conditioned) workplaces allowed. I can’t see many – any? – employers requiring sweaters on a shirtsleeves day. Can you?

“At Rivers Academy, we believe that our uniform provides a sense of belonging and self-worth, which are central to our guiding principles. Our students take pride in their appearance and we hope that by instilling these values, we are preparing them for the professional expectations of the world of work,” said a spokesperson for the school.

Here’s what should have been said: “On this occasion, we got it wrong. We would like to apologise to Ruby and her family. In future we will take steps to ensure this doesn’t happen.” Those steps should include an email alerting parents that sweaters could be dispensed with on hot days (the school said it had eased the policy later in the day, which apparently explained why teachers were seen in weather-appropriate clothing).