‘Gestapo’ school accused of removing angry parents’ Facebook posts about controversial uniform blitz
After 70 pupils turned away in three days all students were allowed through the gates this morning
A 'GESTAPO' school that sent more than 70 pupils home in a uniform crack-down has been accused of hiding Facebook comments written by angry parents.
In the last week Hartsdown Academy had become a battleground between parents and staff, with headteacher Matthew Tate refusing to let pupils into school for flouting the strict dress code.
This morning the battle seemed to be ending as the school confirmed no children had been turned away.
But, just hours earlier social media users had accused the school of "censorship" complaining that Facebook comments had been hidden from its public page.
Responding to a post about uniform requirements a woman asked "where did the 72 comments go??"
Another user responded: "And I see you're deleting all the comments. Good job guys."
A third hit out saying: "What a wonderful lesson for the children. We will censor those who disagree with us. Well, whoever might remove this comment, please understand how much of a hypocrite you and how much I hope you are not actually teaching ANY children. Shame on probable comment deleter. SHAME."
A fourth social media user simply said: "such nonsense."
All these comments have since been hidden from public view.
Facebook gives page holders the option to delete or hide comments. A hidden comment is visible only to the person who posted it and their friends.
The Sun approached the school for comment about the decision to remove social media posts.
Today executive head of the Coastal Academies Trust, Paul Luxmoore, said: "Matthew Tate is unaware of anyone being sent home today.
"Whether everyone turned up is a different matter.
"But we found that any students arriving were in the right uniform."
The school hit the headlines on Tuesday after 50 pupils were turned away for wearing the wrong uniform.
On Wednesday a further 20 pupils were sent home and told to come back in the appropriate wear.
On Thursday, for the third day, four teachers locked the gates and individually inspected pupils as they arrived, letting them in one by one.
The Sun understands that three kids were again turned away over alleged breaches of uniform.
Dad Dave Hopper, 38, has blasted new headteacher Matthew Tate for his strict enforcement of the school's uniform policy.
His daughter Kim, 13, was refused entry to school on Tuesday because she didn't have her blazer - which she had left in the school over summer.
When she returned on Wednesday, the school decided her shoes were a problem too - leaving Dave at the end of his tether.
Dave said: "Her shoes are suede, but apparently the head will only allow leather.
"I was unaware of this - we were just told plain black shoes.
On Thursday Dave had decided not to take Kim to school, fearing she would be turned away again.
The two waited outside the school, but were blanked by teachers.
Dave said: "We went and waited at the school, but we were totally ignored by her head of year.
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"The gates were locked up again, with four teachers waiting for pupils.
"The fact that he's relented to some parents sets a precedent - if he's relenting to one, he should relent to all.
"I didn't want for any of this, I'm not trying to attract attention, but I'm not going to back down.
"It's just dragging on and on."
Dad-of-seven Dave said that he was unhappy with the ambiguity of the policy and the school's hypocrisy over who they're letting in.
He claims that one parent had her daughter let in, despite her skirt being too short, after drafting in a TV crew to interrogate the headteacher.
Dave said: "I'm all for rules, uniform, and conforming, but the policy was too open to interpretation and ambiguity.
"It's become a matter of principle now because he changed his mind on one parent and child.
"Her skirt was too short because she's tall, but once Good Morning Britain challenged him, he decided to let her in.
"Why say yes to her and no to us? It's set a precedent."
The school has stuck up for the strict enforcement of rules with Mr Luxmore adding: "We are sticking to our guns over uniform, of course we are.
"I do think enforcing uniform improves results, not directly but in directly.
"Hartsdown is seen as a rather scruffy school in the community, and it's not just how children appear but our buildings too.
"We require our students to be proud of us, and to want to come to school and want to work.
"We also want good behaviour and fantastic quality teaching. And one of the ways of improving the school - and it does need improving , it's already a good school but it needs improving - is to make sure students are proud of their appearance and proud to come to school and follow the rules.
"Since Matt Tate started and improved uniform it has improved behaviour - teachers are saying behaviour in class rooms has improved this term.
"And that is because Matt Tate is making a clear statement about his intention for students to obey rules."
But, Dave has informed the local education authority of his plans to withdraw Kim from Hartsdown Academy, and is looking for another school for his daughter.
He said he would be willing to work with the school moving forward if they apologised and cleared up the ambiguity of the current code.
Dave added: "I will remain steadfast and resolute in my action.
"It's these shoes or no school."
"I'm not afraid to speak my mind, and I will stay it out, I'm stubborn.
"Kim has been really pragmatic about the whole thing.
"She understands the uniform policy, but she's quite angry and upset.
"She wants to see her friends who she hasn't seen for six weeks, and she wants to be at school.
"She's also angry at the headteacher for the way he's spoken to her."
The family have been blasted online by people who believe their efforts have been misguided, and who think Dave should simply replace Kim's shoes.
But the dad believes those criticising the family are "keyboard warriors", and that anyone would do the same if it was their child.
He said: "I genuinely think people aren't looking at the bigger picture.
"I did question whether I was doing the right thing.
"But I have a valid point here.
"If she had turned up in stilettos, I'd understand, but those shoes could barely be more plain."
Parents have blasted another headteacher after FIFTY pupils were sent home from a different school in the first week of term for breaching strict uniform rules.
Dozens of youngsters were kept in isolation or told to leave for a range of infringements at Magnus Church of England Academy in Newark-on-Trent, Notts.
Some pupils were told their trousers were too tight while other girls were told their skirts were too short.
Teachers also ruled that haircuts were too short and told children off for having the wrong shoes or for wearing earrings.
One angry mum even revealed her autistic son was left in floods of tears because he was booted out of classes as his trousers were too LONG.
The school claimed around 20 pupils were kept in isolation all day but parents said the overall number kept on their own or sent home was closer to 50.
Andrew Armitage, 54, said his son-in-law's daughter, Tiffany Volney, 15, was placed in isolation, despite wearing the same trousers as she had last term.
He added: "They were perfectly acceptable then.
"All of a sudden, they are too tight. They are tight because of her body shape.
"I was told by a teacher that if she went in the same trousers the following day she would be expelled.
"It's outrageous and shameful."
Mum-of-two Gemma Gosling, 36, whose 12-year-old son, Aaron, has autism, said the Year 8 pupil was left in tears after being told his £8 Asda trousers were too long.
She added: "I am annoyed because Aaron is already quite anxious.
"He wasn't put in isolation or sent home but it was the manner they spoke to him.
"A teacher just walked up to him and said his trousers are too long and if he came to school in them the next day he would be sent home.
"He rang when he left the school premises and was crying. He said the teacher had really shouted at him.
"We bought three pairs of the trousers from Asda and they fitted on the waist but were just a bit too long on the leg so I turned them up myself.
"I do not have a problem with the uniform policy.
"We try to stick to it as closely as possible but when they come back about the length of trousers it is just petty.”
The school's new principal, Anna Martin, defended the crackdown and said the uniform inspection was part of continuing efforts to raise school standards.
She added: "We at Magnus Church of England Academy have high expectations and ambitions for our students and are grateful for the support of both students and their parents in regard to the school's uniform policy, which we reissued to parents at the end of the last academic year.
"Our uniform policy is very much in line with that of any aspirational secondary school and where problems do arise we are always happy to meet and speak to parents about how we can resolve the issue.”
Girls in Years 7-11 are banned from wearing make-up or nail varnish that is not natural in colour while haircuts are not allowed to be shaved shorter than grade two.
Pupils must wear plain black polishable shoes with no more than a one-inch heel height and footwear with buckles, logos or tags are banned.
Coats have to be plain or dark in colour and cannot be worn around the academy during the school day with leather and denim jackets also banned.
Watches are allowed but all other items of jewellery, including earrings and piercings, are forbidden under the uniform code.
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