A girl has been suspended twice during the first week of school over a ‘stupid’ uniform rule. The 12-year-old’s mother has been left fuming at the school’s decision
A furious mum has hit out at a school’s “stupid” uniform policy after her daughter was suspended twice during her first week back. The school has claimed the girl was suspended because the 12-year-old’s “skirt was too short” and her “trousers were too tight”.
Danielle Gregory, 35, dropped off her excited daughter, Eva Patterson for her first day of Year 8 on September 2. But the full-time mum was “stunned” when Eva returned home saying she was “told off” because a staff member at the Thorp Academy School, in Newcastle, said her “skirt was too short” – and she was forced to “crouch around” all day.
The following day, Eva wore the same skirt to school, which was about 22cm in length and brought from uniform supplier, Michael Sehgal. But this time she was refused entry and was sent home because her skirt “did not fall below the knee.”
In an attempt to comply to school rules, Danielle brought Eva a pair of £12 black trousers from Primark at short notice. But Eva was suspended for the second time – before making it through the school gates – after staff said her “trousers were too tight.”
According to the school uniform’s policy, all skirts should “sit on the knee in length” while black trousers must be a “tailored regular fit” and not “pencil-tight trousers.”
Danielle claims she knew about the “stupid” policies surrounding skirt length and added her 5 ft 6 inch daughter is “taller than most in her class.” She stated: “Finding a skirt that fits around the waist and is the right length is near impossible.”
Since the ordeal, she said her daughter has been left “extremely upset” and is “nervous” about returning to school. It’s meant “furious” Danielle has bought a £28 pair of tailored trousers from Marks & Spencer this weekend in hopes Eva won’t be suspended for a third time.
Danielle, from Ryton, Newcastle, said: “The school uniform rules have gone too far and I don’t understand the rationale behind it. It’s so stupid – and all she wants is an education.
“Poor Eva is so upset and feels like her first week at school – which is scary enough – has been completely ruined. She also feels targeted and will get in trouble no matter what she wears. Even if you try and make a case, the school just weren’t having it and It’s not fair.
“I’ve managed to buy her some new trousers this weekend and all I can do is hope and pray the school will allow her in.”
Eva returned home “upset” from her first day of school after she claims the staff had given a “warning” about her skirt length.
Danielle said: “The school didn’t bother to phone or email me about it. I had to hear it from my daughter who had been crouching down for six hours trying to make the skirt look longer.”
Danielle said while her daughter was “hurt” by the experience, she went into school the next day wearing the same skirt. It has been brought from Michael Sehgal, the school’s main uniform supplier. And the mum claims it was the only size that fit her “comfortably.”
She added: “The next day, I received a call at about 9:40 in the morning that she had been suspended because of her skirt.
“She was sent home and I was furious and upset. I tried to explain that because of her height, it’s nearly impossible to find skirts which fit her around the waist but are long enough to go below the knee. But they weren’t having it.”
In a final attempt to please the school, Danielle brought Eva a pair of £12 black trousers from Primark that evening. But the following day, the mum-of-three received another phone call at 8:20am from the school saying her daughter had been suspended again – because her “trousers were too tight.”
She stated: “I thought it was a joke at first.”
“Eva hadn’t even made it through the school gates and she was being turned away. I spoke to the school who had offered to give Eva some old uniform, but all they had were some trousers made for boys. They would have been too short for her anyway.
“It felt like a losing battle – especially as I have made genuine efforts to comply with the school’s uniform requirements.”
Since the ordeal, Danielle has made a complain to the school’s headteacher and trust for her daughter’s suspension to be lifted. Because of her suspensions, Danielle says Eva is due to be in isolation on Monday and says the situation has made her feel “targeted.”
Eva added: “It feels like I’m the only one getting targeted – especially as other people wore the same trousers as me. I’m nervous about going back, in case I get suspended again.”
Danielle said: “They’re not thinking about the impact this is going to have on a little girl. I firmly believe uniform policies impact girls’ education – saying they can’t enter the school. I completely agree with rules and boundaries in schools with kids and I’m all for it but when it’s in relation to a policy that’s completely discriminatory, oppressive and sexist I’m not here for it.
“Education should come first.”
A spokesperson from the Northern Education Trust, said: “Thorp Academy is committed to maintaining the high standards that ensure consistently good outcomes for our students.
“Our uniform expectations were shared with families on multiple occasions throughout last academic year and most recently on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
“In preparation for students returning to school on 2 September. Assemblies took place with students well in advance of the summer holidays.
“Information was also shared multiple times over social media throughout the summer holidays. All our policies are applied consistently and fairly. To support families and remove barriers, we have invested significantly in brand new uniform which we have given free of charge to families that have come into the academy and worked with us.
“We cannot comment on individual cases, but we strongly encourage parents with any concerns to speak directly to the academy. We will always work with families to resolve issues, and believe that direct conversation with the school, rather than through the media, is the most constructive way to do that.”