A teenage girl from Yorkshire had a difficult first day back at school after her uniform was deemed inappropriate. Amelia Rollinson, 15, attends Thornaby Academy in Thornaby, Teesside. She was sent home early on Wednesday, September 4. Her mother, Carolann Barton, from Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, has criticised the school's decision.
Barton, who owns a balloon company, said schools should allow pupils some individuality. She said: "Amelia said she doesn't understand why the students have to dress a certain way when teachers are covered in make-up and wear whatever they want. If you keep them at home, you get fined, if you send them in, they happily send them home." She added: "The way Amelia was treated on her first day back to school was disgusting in my eyes."
The issue was a recent uniform policy change requiring skirts to be knee-length and pleated. Barton explained: "We were informed about the uniform policy at the end of last year. We knew skirts had to be knee-length and pleated, which is understandable. We went to Asda and I got the longer skirt, it was about an inch above the knee. I sent her into school and she was sent home because the skirt didn't touch the knee. They also said it wasn't pleated, which it clearly was. On the tag it said 'pleated long skirt'."
Barton said Amelia entered the school grounds without issue, but teachers later deemed the skirt inappropriate. She said: "They sat her in a little room on her own. I got a phone call at 11am and they asked if it was possible for her to stay at school until 12pm and then send her home. I said 'no, she's sitting in a room and not getting education, she might as well be at home'. She sat sobbing at school. I feel frustrated, angry and upset for Amelia because she cried over it. I'm disgusted. They tried to get her to wear one of the school ones and she refused because they go right past the shin and she doesn't want to get picked on."
Barton spent £16 on the Asda skirt. The school's uniform policy states skirts must be "fully pleated front, sides, and back" and sit "on or below the knee". Unable to resolve the matter, Amelia remained in isolation until her mother collected her. They then bought trousers, which she now wears to school.
A spokesperson for the Northern Education Trust said: "Thornaby Academy is committed to maintaining the high standards that have driven significant improvements in our students' educational outcomes since joining Northern Education Trust. We are incredibly proud of our students and the high expectations that have driven these improvements – an amazing 69% of students overall achieved a pass in English and maths in this year's GCSEs (74% in maths and 78% in English) marking three consecutive years of growth –tremendous outcomes for our students and above national average. Our uniform expectations were shared with families throughout last academic year and most recently on 29 June 2026. 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. Our Open Evening takes place on Tuesday 22 September 2026 at 5 pm and we warmly invite families to come and see the academy for themselves."
Mother Furious After Daughter Sent Home Over £16 Asda Skirt