6 days ago
Second schoolgirl ‘put in isolation' for wearing Union Jack on ‘culture day' as yet another school sparks woke rule fury
A FURIOUS mum told how her daughter was among dozens of children put into 'isolation' for wearing Union Jack flags to celebrate a culture day.
Pupils at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy in Oldbury, West Midlands, had been asked to wear something to reflect their heritage for the day.
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But head teacher Peter McKinniss objected to British flags and had the pupils wearing them pulled out of class and held in a meeting room, it is claimed.
One pupil who challenged him over his no-flags policy, Isobelle Wehrle, 15, was then sent home for arguing and suspended for five days.
Another girl, Scarlett Priest, 13, claims she was put into the meeting room for wearing a white top with a Union Jack on it.
It comes after we reported how a pupil at another school, Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, was banned from a 'diversity day' for wearing a Union Jack dress.
Isobelle's furious mother, Leanne, 39, said: 'Isobelle was absolutely devastated when she was suspended just for asking the head why she and other pupils weren't allowed to wear Union Jack flags.
"They'd been asked to go to school that day wearing something that reflected their heritage and cultural identity, so it seemed appropriate to her to wear the flag.
'Lots of kids were doing the same - some wore their flags over their shoulders, like my daughter, and others opted to wear the around their waists as skirts.
'She set off for school with her flag and she was in good spirits, but almost immediately, after she arrived at school she was put into an isolation room.
'Isobelle was put into one of many meeting rooms the school has with about 30 other kids.
'It's absolutely ridiculous.
Mum is instantly mortified as she returns from the school run, looks in the mirror & realises her almighty outfit fail
"Yet many other children used culture day to wear flags from the countries where their families originated, such as Jamaica and Spain, and had no problem whatsoever.
'They were allowed to wear their flags with pride.'
Charity shop worker Jenny Priest claims her daughter Scarlett, 13, was also put into isolation for wearing a white t-shirt with a union jack printed on it.
Jenny, 38, said: 'When she went in she was told the jeans she was wearing were too revealing but I think the real reason was because she was wearing a union jack.
'She was put into the isolation room and was really upset. She has never been in isolation before and has a brilliant school record.
'There were about 30 kids in there and they all had some kind of British thing or England top.
'It was obvious that's why they had pulled her aside.
'I went to pick her up and I saw kids walking around the playground with flags and tops of other countries like Jamaica and Albania. They weren't put into isolation.
'Isobelle stuck up for my daughter saying she shouldn't be in there and she got into trouble for that.'
Bar owner Mrs Wehrle, of Oldbury, added: 'Isobelle and her friends were made to feel like wearing something British was dirty.
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"She took the suspension very badly because she couldn't understand why the head had been so unfair.
'All she had done was question him in a very mature way about what was wrong with the British flag, but all he could reply with was: 'Because it's not allowed.'.
'He gave her no explanation beyond that.
"Isobelle is not a disruptive child. She works incredibly hard and she's doing well at school.
'She always tries her best and her behaviour is impeccable.
'She's never late and she never gets into trouble – until this happened, at least.'
She was put into the isolation room and was really upset. She has never been in isolation before and has a brilliant school record.
Jenny Priest
Mrs Wehrle said around 60 per cent of children at the 2,000-pupil school were from non-British heritage.
On the day Isobelle was suspended for five days, other children were sent home for just one day for fighting, according to her mother.
Another pupil, who climbed over the school gates after arriving late that day, was suspended for two days, she added.
Leanne said: 'Why did Isobelle get suspended for five days just for asking mature, reasonable question?
'It feels like the headteacher reacted in a very childish way and I think she deserves an apology.
"She's halfway through her GCSE course and that should be the school's priority. This is going to stay with her for a long time.'
She's halfway through her GCSE course and that should be the school's priority. This is going to stay with her for a long time
Leanne Wehrle
Earlier this week, The Sun reported how a pupil at another school, Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, was banned from a 'diversity day' for wearing a Union Jack dress.
Heartbroken pupil Courtney Wright, 12, was told: 'You get to celebrate being British every day, this is for everybody else.'
The Year 7 pupil teamed her dress — similar to the one worn by Spice Girl Geri Halliwell in the 1990s — with a matching bowler hat.
She also planned to read a speech celebrating tea, Shakespeare, fish and chips and the royals.
But the grade-A student was stopped by teachers who gave her the option of wearing a second-hand uniform instead.
Courtney refused before her dad Stuart Field, 47, arrived to collect her from school. He accused teachers of 'virtue signalling' and said he had since received a grovelling apology.
It feels like the headteacher reacted in a very childish way and I think she deserves an apology
Leanne Wehrle
A spokesperson for Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy, said: 'As part of our recent Culture Day, students were invited to wear a wide range of outfits and traditional clothing that reflected their heritage and cultural backgrounds – including those which represent British culture such as the Union Jack.
'On non-uniform days, we have clear and consistent guidelines in place that apply to all students, although no student was suspended due to their choice of outfit on the day.
'These help us maintain a positive and focused learning environment, while still allowing students to enjoy and celebrate special occasions.
'All our policies are designed with the best interests of our students at heart, and we remain proud of the inclusive and respectful culture we promote across our school community.'
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