Anger over pen used to blacken pupil's shoes (From Epsom Guardian)

South Norwood school accused of taking hard-line on uniform

7:40am Thursday 17th May 2012 in News By Nick Hitchens

An academy is accused of forcing pupils to use permanent marker on their shoes to meet strict school uniform regulations.

Sophie Roberts, who has two children at the Harris Academy, in South Norwood, is furious after her 12-year-old daughter Ayla was pulled from class on Thursday May 10 after arriving with black Kickers shoes with pink stitching.

She said: "I got a call at 9am to say Ayla was being held in a referral room because she was wearing pink shoes.

"They wanted her to wear these community plimsolls, but I don’t know where they have been."

She took Ayla home, and used mascara to cover the stitching so she could return to sit an afternoon test.

Miss Roberts revealed her son Lamel, 13, has also had trouble with his footwear, when in February he was forced to use black permanent marker to cover white lining at the top of his school shoes.

She said: "It is ridiculous. I was in hospital at the time and found out they had bullied him into ruining his own shoes. It is vandalism. They are not cheap shoes."

Miss Roberts, who lives just five minutes walk from the school, said: "There are other children who have been told to colour in their shoes too. It just seems arbitrary and completely over the top."

A spokesman for Harris Academy said they would not comment on the allegations.

She said: "We would never comment on an individual student but it is important to the Academy, and to other students and staff, that everyone looks smart and wears their uniform correctly.

"It is important to be consistent in how school rules are applied and parents and carers are very supportive of this."