Brighton girl put in detention because skirt is too short
Courtney Meredith, 16, was told her 'skirt must be no higher than 5cm (2in) above the knee' before she was put in isolation
A schoolgirl missed important lessons for her GCSEs after being put in isolation and twice given a detention because teachers said her skirt was too short.
Courtney Meredith, 16, was told her 'skirt must be no higher than 5cm (2in) above the knee' before she was put in isolation, missing out on key lessons.
She was also given a detention and her angry mother Kirsty Owen claimed there are 'plenty of other' girls with skirts that are shorter than her daughter's.
The row led to Ms Owen and Courtney's grandmother protesting outside the school - but even when the girl returned she was given detention again.
Ms Owen, 33, said teachers at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (Paca) in Brighton, East Sussex, are not dealing with the situation correctly.
She also said she feels like she is in a 'battle' with the secondary school and sixth form, adding her daughter is missing out on vital lessons 'because of a skirt'.
Ms Owen said: 'My daughter's school rules state that the skirt she wears must be 5cm above the knee. There are plenty of other children at the school walking around with their skirts up higher than my daughter wears hers.
Courtney was given a detention and her angry mother Kirsty Owen claimed there are 'plenty of other' girls with skirts that are shorter than her daughter's
The row led to Ms Owen and Courtney's grandmother protesting outside the school - but even when the girl returned she was given detention again
'The school put her in isolation on a regular basis. It appears that it has just been a battle with the school and at such an important time for my daughter, during her GCSEs. I don't agree that she should be missing this many lessons because of a skirt.'
She added: 'My daughter should just be able to focus on her work at such a vital stage in her education and I truly feel that teachers at the school aren't dealing with my daughter as well as other pupils I have spoken to, in the correct way.'
The full-time mother also said she has informed Paca - which has around 900 pupils aged 11 to 18 - that none of her younger children will sign up to attend the school.
Police officers attended the school when Ms Owen and Courtney's grandmother protested with placards and chanted, but said no crimes were committed by them.
Katie Scott, principal at Paca, said: 'It isn't our policy to discuss any matter concerning an individual student in public.
The school principal said that no formal complaint has ever been made by the adults involved
Ms Owen said said she feels like she is in a 'battle' with the secondary school and sixth form, adding her daughter is missing out on vital lessons 'because of a skirt'
'PACA is an inclusive, community school and all staff work hard to support all students in achieving their academic potential.
'Like any school occasionally a student makes poor choices and it is necessary to impose sanctions, which may range from detention to external exclusion if these continue.
'Throughout any process relating to a student's behaviour, we have extensive discussions with parents and provide them with information on how they make a formal complaint if they feel that the matter has not been dealt with fairly.'
The principal said that no formal complaint has ever been made by the adults involved.
In the school's recent Ofsted report, inspectors wrote that pupils 'feel safe, are happy and make good progress'.