A 12-year-old student was removed from lessons at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, on Friday, 11 July, after arriving in a Union Jack dress during a non-uniform cultural celebration day. The school's response has triggered widespread criticism, with political figures and parents accusing staff of singling out British identity.
Courtney Wright wore the dress to express her heritage during the school's Culture Celebration Day. Her father, Stuart Field, said she was placed in reception isolation and later sent home — a decision that left her confused and embarrassed.
A Symbol of National Pride Sparks Controversy
Courtney's outfit was styled after Geri Halliwell's iconic Spice Girls Union Jack dress, a well-known symbol tied to British pop culture rather than politics. Her family said she simply wanted to represent the country she is from, just as classmates were encouraged to showcase their own cultural backgrounds.
According to Field, school staff told him the outfit might not be appropriate for the occasion. He later shared photos online and said he could not understand how celebrating Britishness could be deemed controversial.
Other parents have since claimed that students wearing Welsh or St George's flags were also asked to remove or cover their clothing. The school has not confirmed these reports, and no formal guidance on national symbols was issued prior to the event.
School Apologises and Promises Review
Following media coverage and growing public criticism, the school's academy trust issued an apology. The Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust said it regretted how the situation was handled and acknowledged that the incident caused unnecessary upset.
In a statement, the Trust reaffirmed the school's commitment to inclusion and respect but admitted that clearer communication around expectations was needed. Staff training and policy reviews are now being planned to avoid similar issues in the future. The Department for Education has not commented on the matter at the time of writing.
Political Reaction and Divided Public Opinion
The incident quickly drew national attention. Conservative MP Brendan Clarke-Smith criticised the school's decision, stating that British identity should not be excluded from celebrations designed to reflect diversity.
Public reaction online has been mixed. Some defended the school's responsibility to manage how national symbols are displayed in an educational setting. Others argued that asking a student to cover the flag of their own country on a day meant to celebrate identity sends the wrong message.
At the heart of the debate is a broader question: if diversity is the goal, should that not include the culture of the host country?
A Call for Clarity, Not Conflict
As more schools adopt cultural celebration days, educators are facing increasing pressure to strike the right balance. The lack of clear dress guidance ahead of the event at Bilton School appears to have contributed to the confusion.
Parents say they support the idea of celebrating diversity, but not when it excludes someone's heritage.
'She wasn't trying to be political,' Field said. 'She just wanted to feel proud of who she is.'
Courtney has since returned to school. Her family says they are not seeking further action, only a more inclusive and consistent approach in the future.
School apologises, promises review
Following media coverage and growing public criticism, the school's academy trust issued an apology. Stowe Valley Trust said it regretted how the situation was handled and acknowledged that the incident had caused unnecessary upset.
In its statement, the Trust reaffirmed the school's commitment to inclusion and respect, but admitted that clearer communication around expectations was needed. Staff training and policy reviews are now being planned to avoid similar issues in the future. The Department for Education has not commented on the matter as of publication.
Political reaction and public divide
The incident quickly drew national attention. Conservative MP Brendan Clarke-Smith criticised the school's decision, saying British identity should not be excluded from celebrations intended to reflect diversity.
Online, opinion was mixed. Some defended the school's right to manage how symbols are displayed, especially in a school setting. Others argued that telling a child to cover their country's flag on a day meant to honour identity, sent the wrong message.
At the heart of the debate was a simple question: if diversity is the goal, shouldn't that include the culture of the country itself?
A call for clarity, not conflict
As more schools introduce cultural celebration days, educators are facing growing pressure to get the balance right. The lack of clear dress guidance ahead of the event appears to have contributed to the confusion at Bilton School.
Parents say they support the idea of celebrating diversity but not when it comes at the cost of excluding someone's heritage. 'She wasn't trying to be political,' Field said. 'She just wanted to feel proud of who she is.' Courtney has since returned to school. The family says they're not seeking further action, only a better approach next time.
