THE head of Hassenbrook Academy in Stanford-le-Hope has defended a decision by the school, under guidance from its soon-to-be new managing Trust, to refuse entry to students who have not met its standards of dress relation to school uniform.

A number of parents have taken to social media today (Thursday, 5 September after a number of pupils were turned away at the school gates for wearing skirts that were too short and inappropriate footwear.

However, school head Sally Feeney says that parents were given ample notice of the school's requirements and that there would be no exceptions.

The school, which along with Gable Hall Secondary and Corringham Primary, is to be taken over by the Mossbourne Federation on 1 October, says full details of all standards and expectations were delivered by the trusts CEO, Peter Hughes, in a letter sent to all parents in July.

The letter said: "As we prepare for the next academic year, which will see the merger of the Ortu Trust and the Mossbourne Federation, we are looking forward to this exciting new partnership which provides an opportunity for both staff and students to start afresh with renewed expectations in September.

"You are aware of the focus on uniform which has been undertaken at both Gable Hall School and Hassenbrook Academy in recent weeks.

"We ask that you continue to support your child both as we come to the end of the academic year and in preparation for September.

"We must take this opportunity to advise that all students will be expected to attend in September, in perfect uniform as prescribed by the current policy.

"Should your child not adhere to the uniform policy, please be informed that they will not be permitted to enter site and will be sent home to change.

"We will, of course, contact you to advise that your child will be leaving site to change into the correct uniform.

"We also ask that you avoid allowing any change long term to your child's appearance at the start of the summer holidays which cannot be rectified by the time they are expected to return to school in September."

Today (Thursday, 5 September), Mrs Feeney said: "We had made very clear that students would be sent home if they were not in correct uniform.

"The students that did get sent home were either in trainers or had skirts that were too short. Before the summer, we had a real drive on uniform and it was really positive.

"We have been meeting and greeting students at the gate as they arrive and checking their uniform. The vast majority have come back to school in perfect uniform and looking so smart, they are a credit to parents and represent Hassenbrook Academy perfectly.

"Unfortunately, it has resulted in some students being sent home to rectify their uniform where they did not follow the uniform guidelines given. 

"Thank you to those parents who managed to rectify it quickly. We will continue to enforce our uniform policy to ensure that standards remain high.

"Please note that skirts need to cover the knee so that knee caps cannot be seen. If students are struggling to source a skirt of the appropriate length then they should wear trousers.

"We enjoyed significant success last term regarding uniform compliance and will continue to enforce this.

"School uniform promotes inclusivity, discipline, and professionalism while instilling a sense of pride and unity within the school community, and sets our students up well for their life post 16 when they are in the workplace, whether it be in Saturday jobs, or their careers later down the line."

A mumber of parents have taken to socail media to challenge the school's decision-making and state,ent. One says: "The uniform policy we was given in our enrollment packs states knee length.

"My child, who was wearing knee length got sent home, as it's supposed to be under the knee.

"I went on website to show the teacher it states knee length which it did but now they've changed it to no knee caps showing.

"They punished my child a day before the new rule got put into place on her first day of year seven.

"We didn't get an email stating about the change … we followed the school policy but yet still got punished."