Yet another parent has found themselves embroiled in a row with their child's school over "inappropriate" Kickers as school shoes.
The mum, from Tameside in Greater Manchester, was left furious when her daughter was "sent home within 15 minutes" of her first day back, after staff deemed her shiny Kickers as "inappropriate."
The Year 11 student is said to be one of several pupils at Rayner Stephens High School in Dukinfield sent home over incorrect footwear, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Bosses at the school, however, claim no one was sent home and say students were offered alternative shoes.
Julie Oakman said her daughter's Kickers were deemed inappropriate, but claimed she didn't know about a change in uniform rules introduced last month until too late.
"I didn’t know anything about the shoe policy until August, I’ve rechecked my emails," she said.
"Kickers have always been worn as school shoes. The picture of the school shoes they sent to me were like something I wore in primary school. It’s a pair of shoes. It does not define my child."
Another parent at the school, who asked not to be named, said her child's Kickers were also deemed to be inappropriate.
She said she bought them at the beginning of the summer - and didn't receive the updated uniform list until the end of August.
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"That's 60 quid down the drain. Now I have to find more money," the mum fumed.
"These Kickers last all year and kids find them comfy. They are plain black and I don’t see how it affects their learning. They were allowed to wear Air Force Ones last year."
According to the school's uniform policy, pupils must wear "plain black school shoes made of a polishable material."
Melanie Wicks, executive principle of the Stanford Park Trust, which includes Rayner Stephens, said students were offered alternative, brand new shoes to wear.
"We have a new uniform policy that was sent out in July, the end of July and twice in August," she said.
"They’ve had texts, they’ve had emails. We have a full uniform stock. We have not sent anyone home, we’ve offered them the uniform."
She added: "The students made the wrong choice. Most parents convinced them to be right."
Ms Wicks said that if parents bought items before they were aware of the new rules, the school will happily provide children with uniform. Parents can pay the school back when they can, she added.
"If your daughter has bought Air Force Ones, don’t worry, she can have our shoes and you can pay back when you can."
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