Boy kicked out of class for wearing trainers

The 12-year-old was pulled out of his lessons because he was wearing trainers.

He was made to do his schoolwork in a separate room, supervised by his head of year as she taught another class at the same time.

David had been forced to wear his trainers after his school shoes were soaked during a downpour as he walked home from school on the previous day.

And even though his mum, Janet Duffy, had written a note to David's teachers explaining why her son was wearing sports shoes, her son was told he could not wear them.

After a telephone call from her worried son on Friday morning Mrs Duffy went to William Beamont County High and took her child home at dinner-time with schoolwork to complete.

Mrs Duffy of Winifred Street, Orford, said: "I think it's absolutely diabolical. I wouldn't mind but his trainers were black and were hardly different to his school shoes.

"I even sent in a letter but this has still all happened. David loves school so he was really upset about it all."

The school offered to lend David some footwear from a range of shoes they keep in stock but Mrs Duffy refused to allow her son to wear them.

"I am not having my child wearing shoes which may have been worn by other kids," she said. "It's just not hygienic and that's how things like verucas are passed on."

The school's acting head teacher, Lilian Platt, said that Heads of Year are responsible for making a decision in individual cases such as this.

She added: "We have worked very hard over the last three years to make sure that children come to school in the correct school uniform.

"As part of this scheme we have not allowed children to wear trainers. They are just not being suitable for school.

"But our policy also means that if there is a good reason why the child is wearing trainers we are sympathetic."

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