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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Parents demand apology after girl, 12, put in isolation for wearing Union Jack dress
Courtney Wright, 12, wore a Spice Girls-esque dress and wrote a piece about history and traditions as part of the diversity day celebrations at Bilton School in Rugby last Friday Parents at a school where a girl was turned away from a diversity day celebration for wearing a union flag dress are outraged over her treatment and have called on the headmistress to apologise publicly. Straight A student Courtney Wright, 12, arrived at Bilton School in Rugby excited to show pals her Spice Girls-style dress, which features a union flag made out of red and blue sequins. However, on arrival, she was isolated away from the rest of her class, removed from her lesson and forced to wait at the school reception until her fuming dad could pick her up after work. The youngster had also spent days preparing a speech about history and traditions, which she was barred from giving. Now, parents of the girl's schoolmates have spoken out, branding the episode "disgusting", while others noted the school had only specified that football strips would not be allowed. "What kind of message does this send out to the local community?" one father asked. "Cancelling a child because she's proud of her British heritage is outrageous. It's the head mistress who needs cancelling and who needs to stop hiding behind the school trust and make a public apology." One dad, 44, whose 12-year-old daughter is in the same year as Courtney, told the MailOnline: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it on social media. It's disgusting if you think this was supposed to be about celebrating diversity. My daughter wore a tie made of the family tartan because we are Scottish and nothing was said about that. "It's a medium multi-ethnic school and there were other pupils who wore traditional Asian dress and headwear which was acceptable, so why not allow a union flag dress?" The school's Trust has since apologised for the incident - but some say it's too little too late. One mum said that the majority of parents are backing Courtney's dad in the row, adding that her daughter had heard the 12-year-old was removed because the school celebrates British culture on a daily basis. In a statement yesterday, it appeared as though the Prime Minister is backing Courtney and her dad too. A spokesperson for Number 10 said: 'I think the school has put out a statement on this so I'm not going to comment further, but the Prime Minister has always been clear that being British is something to be celebrated.' Dad Stuart said the school's actions went against its message and other pupils with St George's flags and Welsh flags were also turned away from the school gates. He said: "Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. It's the school who have made it political and it went against everything the event was being held for. She chose the dress and wrote the piece off her own back. "They day was to celebrate everyone's cultures and Courtney chose this Union Flag dress so she could celebrate hers. She also wrote this speech to go with it and was very proud of what she'd done. The next thing I get a call at work at around 9am to say she's not allowed in school dressed like that and that it was unacceptable. "I wasn't able to get away from work until about midday. They made her sit in reception all morning in front of the receptionists and kept her in isolation. She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. And she shouldn't be punished for celebrating being British - nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it. "Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political. It's about being British, the Spice Girls and even the freedom at being able to wear a dress. This is just what being British means to her."
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Something must change now after my daughter, 12, was embarrassed by her school'
Courtney Wright was removed from the Culture Celebration Day at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire "without saying a single word," a move which has outraged dad Stuart Field A furious dad has demanded "something must change" as his 12-year-old daughter was taken out of a diversity class after wearing a Union Flag dress. Stuart Field, 47, believes "people have had enough about being told what they can and can't do" after the school's decision to put Courtney Wright into isolation upset the family and the wider community. Although Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, has since apologised, a spokesperson for Keir Starmer has insisted "being British is something to be celebrated." Pupils with St George's flags and Welsh flags were also turned away from the school gates, Mr Field added. In a new video, the dad said: "What happened on Friday should not happen to any child in the UK. It has caused a lot of upset in the UK, I think people have had enough about being told what they can and can't do when they are being proud to celebrate their own culture and own history. I don't think this is going to end anytime soon, unless something changes." Mr Field, who works in marine restoration, did not state what exactly he feels needs to change. However, he stressed he is confident the backlash the school has faced reflects fury across society at the issue. The school, rated as Good by Ofsted, had billed the day as a opportunity for pupils to wear attire reflecting their nationality or family heritage, rather than a school uniform. Not long after Courtney arrived in the Spice Girls-esque dress, the youngster was booted out classes "without saying a single word" and was not allowed to make her inclusive speech about the importance to her of being British, which referenced drinking tea, fish and chips and values of fairness and politeness. "Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. She shouldn't be punished for celebrating being British culture and history - nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it," dad-of-five Stuart, from Coventry, West Midlands, said. "Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political. It's about being British, the Spice Girls and even the freedom of being able to wear a dress. This was her interpretation of British culture and what it means to her." A statement issued on behalf of the school by the Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust said: "On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community. "We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. "We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage." The statement, which said the school was proud of the diversity of its students and the rich heritage they bring to the community, added: "As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect, and understanding for all. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included."
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Girl in union flag dress barred from giving speech on school's ‘culture day'
A diversity day at a secondary school in Warwickshire ended in upset and apologies after a 12-year-old girl wearing a union flag dress was prevented from delivering a speech she had written about British culture. Pupils at Bilton school in the village of Bilton, Rugby, were invited to take part in 'culture day', dedicated to 'recognising and celebrating the rich cultural diversity within our school community'. Children were encouraged to wear outfits that reflected their nationality or family heritage to the event last Friday. Courtney Wright, a year 7 pupil, donned a union flag dress similar to – though more demure than – one worn by the Spice Girl Geri Halliwell in 1997. Her father, Stuart Field, said his daughter was removed from the celebration day and was not allowed to deliver her speech, which was intended to celebrate British values of fairness and politeness, as well as traditions such as drinking tea, talking about the weather and eating fish and chips. The school subsequently offered its apologies to Courtney. It said it deeply regretted the distress caused by the incident and was committed to 'learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage'. In a post on Facebook last Friday, Field wrote: 'On my way to collect my daughter from school. She's currently being made to sit at reception waiting for me. The reason? It's cultural diversity day at school where children can wear clothing representing their culture and write a speech about their heritage. She's been told it's not for her as she gets to celebrate being British every day.' A statement issued on behalf of the school by the Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust said: 'On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community. 'We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage.' The statement added: 'As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect and understanding for all. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued and included.'
Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Pupil isolated for wearing Union Jack dress to school's diversity day
A school has apologised to the family of a 12-year-old pupil who was taken out of a diversity class after wearing a Union Flag dress. Courtney Wright, a 'straight-A student', chose a dress inspired by the Spice Girls and prepared a speech on British history and traditions as part of the school's last Friday. Stuart Field, 47, said his daughter was removed from the celebrations last week 'without saying a single word' and told her outfit was 'unacceptable'. The speech she had planned to present was about the importance to her of being British, and referenced drinking tea, fish and chips and the values of fairness and politeness. Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, said it deeply regretted the distress caused by the incident and was committed to 'learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage'.
Daily Record
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Keir Starmer responds after schoolgirl put in school isolation over Union Flag dress
A schoolgirl was thrown into isolation after turning up to school in a Union Flag dress. A schoolgirl who was put into isolation and pulled from lessons after wearing a Union Flag dress to mark her British heritage on school culture day has been backed by the Prime Minister. Courtney Wright, 12, a straight-A student, turned up to class in a Spice Girls-style dress and wrote a piece about British history and traditions to mark the occasions. However, teachers branded her outfit "unacceptable" and she was thrown out of lessons at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, reports the Mirror. She was then forced to sit in reception until her dad could collect her. Furious dad, Stuart Field, 47, said he was shocked when he found his daughter had been segregated from her friends due to her choice of attire. In a permission letter sent to parents, it said the day was "designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds, traditions and heritages". The decision to punish her caused fury and PM Keir Starmer's spokesperson appeared to side with the schoolgirl and her family. They said: 'I think the school has put out a statement on this so I'm not going to comment further, but the Prime Minister has always been clear that being British is something to be celebrated.' Courtney's dad Stuart hit out at the school's hypocrisy and claimed other pupils with St George's flags and Welsh flags were also turned away from the school gates. He said: "Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. It's the school who have made it political and it went against everything the event was being held for. She chose the dress and wrote the piece off her own back. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "They day was to celebrate everyone's cultures and Courtney chose this Union Flag dress so she could celebrate hers. She also wrote this speech to go with it and was very proud of what she'd done. The next thing I get a call at work at around 9am to say she's not allowed in school dressed like that and that it was unacceptable. "I wasn't able to get away from work until about midday. They made her sit in reception all morning in front of the receptionists and kept her in isolation. She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. And she shouldn't be punished for celebrating being British - nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it. "Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political. It's about being British, the Spice Girls and even the freedom at being able to wear a dress. This is just what being British means to her." The school has since backtracked and apologised after a weekend of backlash. A spokesman for Stowe Valley Trust said: "At Bilton School, we are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included. "On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community. We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies. "We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage. "As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect, and understanding for all.'
