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<\/p>\nA MUM has said her daughter was sent home from her first day at secondary school because of her new shoes.<\/p>\n
Melissa Pope, 37, has slammed Grace College in Gateshead, Newcastle, after her 11-year-old was put in isolation for her footwear. <\/p>\n
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Branding them "ridiculous", the furious mum-of-two said Layla Thomson didn't learn anything on her first day of year 7 or even get to look around the site.<\/p>\n
Pictures of the schoolgirl smiling before the big day show her wearing the correct blazer, tie and skirt with a pair of Vivienne Westwood slip-on pumps. <\/p>\n
But when she arrived, she barely even made it through the first lesson before being told her shoes were inappropriate.<\/p>\n
Fuming Melissa said she was taken and put into isolation until her grandma came to collect her and take her home.<\/p>\n
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The mum said Layla wasn't the only pupil sent on that day and called the whole thing "disgusting". <\/p>\n
She told ChronicleLive: "My daughter has had her first day at secondary school. <\/p>\n
"She's been sitting in a room not learning anything at all and not wanting to go back."<\/p>\n
Melissa said she was told the shoes were a health and safety concern because the top of Layla's foot wasn't covered, and that it must be a "brogue type shoe".<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n She added: "It's a school, it's not a camp. <\/p>\n "They're getting treated like they're in the Army and they have got to do this and that and wear this and that.<\/p>\n "The only thing it's done today is disrupt a whole school. She hasn't done anything or had any lessons. <\/p>\n "She doesn't know what the school is like. She's just been stuck in a room."<\/p>\n The school said they aim for "high standards at all times" but that they also want students to be equal during the cost of living crisis. <\/p>\n A spokesperson for Grace College said: "Grace College is proud of its uniform for the professional image it portrays, and we expect students to wear it with pride.<\/p>\n "We aim for high standards at all times and wearing the correct uniform in the correct way is a significant and important starting point in setting and maintaining these standards. <\/p>\n "Our uniform policy is designed to be fair, equal and affordable to all students, which is especially important during a cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n "Our uniform is smart, practical and good value and clear guidance on it is provided to families prior to their children joining the college; the policy can also be found within three clicks on our website.<\/p>\n "All families are aware that school shoes should be plain black and polishable, and devoid of fashion logos. <\/p>\n "Our website offers guidance on eight different styles and we name recommended suppliers.<\/p>\n "This is to ensure consistency across the college, to ensure safety, to protect students from pressure to follow trends, to prevent bullying and to keep costs as low as possible."<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/tp-composite-holly-vs-phil-new.jpg\")
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