Police called as pupils turned away from south-east London school for 'decorating' uniforms

Pupils were turned away from Blackfen School for Girls, pictured, after they decorated their uniforms
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Parents were left furious after police were called and pupils turned away from a south-east London school for “decorating” uniforms on their last day.

The year 11 students at Blackfen School for Girls, in Sidcup, were not allowed inside the gates because they broke school uniform rules.

Up to 100 pupils were reportedly refused entry to the school for their final lessons before GCSE exams, and gathered outside causing massive disruption to traffic.

Alterations to school uniform were said to include the addition of sequins and bows, and parents and pupils alike were left outraged.

One parent, who asked not to be named, told the Standard her daughter decorated her shirt but was not turned away because she covered it with a blazer.

However she added: “It is such a shame, I was really upset for them, they work really hard and they just went to let off a bit of steam on their last day and that has been taken away from them.

“It was very disappointing and the kids were very disappointed as well.

"I did support my daughter in decorating her shirt and if she had been turned away I would have gone up to the school and told them what I thought.

“I was not impressed, it’s a shame.”

A student wrote on Twitter: “My school wouldn't let year 11 leavers decorate their uniform, but of course they did, and now they're not letting them in school. Pathetic.”

An email had been sent to parents earlier in the week warning that “any student wearing incorrect uniform before this date will be sanctioned in the normal way.”

The school said in a statement: “We are sorry that some of our year 11 students chose to turn up out of uniform today and so were unable to come into school.

“The whole year group were asked earlier this week to come in uniform today as usual and they were clearly told that if they didn’t they would be asked to return home to change.

“Many of the girls that turned up this morning did just that and have since come back into school.

“We know that the end of school is a celebration and recognise that the girls have worked hard at Blackfen. To mark this we will be holding a special event after the exams next month.

“We hope all the girls will come along and have a great time remembering their school years. We are delighted that many of these students will also be staying with us into 6th form.”

A Met Police spokesman added: “Police were called at around 8.35am May 12 to Blackfen Road, Sidcup, to a report of school girls in the road disrupting traffic.

“Officers attended. There were no offences.”

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