A SCHOOL has hit back at claims on We Are Barnsley's Facebook page that it's isolated dozens of pupils for wearing unsuitable trousers and banned them from wearing Remembrance Day poppies.
Parents flooded to the page last week, criticising Kirk Balk Community College's uniform policy.
One parent, Jane Rockett, said: "There are probably more kids in isolation at Kirk Balk today than anywhere else due to their trousers being an inch tighter at the bottom than they should be. Wish teachers would concentrate on teaching."
Joanne Harper-Hall posted: "One of my sons said most of the school was in isolation today. They both used to love school and never wanted to miss a day but they hate it now. They should be enjoying their school years. Apparently no poppies are allowed this year, they're banned!"
But Kirk Balk strongly defended its uniform policy and denied poppies were banned.
It said the Facebook comments sprang from 'malicious gossip' and the focus should instead be on its positive Ofsted report, which came out this week.
The college said it had written to parents last week about uniform policy after some pupils pushed the rules.
The letter said: "Currently staff time is being taken up dealing with uniform issues. Of real concern is the wearing of short skirts and leggings.
"These are inappropriate in a college setting. Whilst we are reluctant to interrupt learning, it may be deemed necessary to send students home to change their clothes if they continue to wear non-uniform clothing."
Vice principal Roger Goodwin said: "We have got malicious gossip on Facebook driving the agenda.
"There were people saying pupils couldn't wear poppies for Remembrance Day, whereas in fact we had a strong week of remembrance in school including assemblies for each year group, and a thought for the day.
"We sold poppies in school encouraging students to wear them during the remembrance period."
