Parents of students who attend Dixons Brooklands Academy in Manchester were left stunned following an alleged uniform change just before the start of the new term
Parents have slammed a school after they were reportedly given just two days notice about a uniform change – leaving several families out of pocket.
Families of children who attend Dixons Brooklands Academy, claim the school sent them an updated link to their website on the weekend. In the link, the facility is said to have disclosed new uniform rules.
But parents say that they had already purchased what their children needed and had planned their finances, when the summer half-term commenced. According to parents and guardians, students based in Year 10 and 11 can no longer wear shirts and blouses without a collar.
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Under the new rules, children must wear ‘matching cuffs and collars’. These are worn with a suit – jacket and trousers – in either grey, navy or black, along with a claret tie.
In the younger years they are required to wear a plain white shirt with black tailored school trousers. Skirts were banned last year so it’s now trousers-only for all, reports Manchester Evening News. Parents have blasted the school for their lack of communication and branded them as “incompetent”.
Now, they are refusing to adhere to the last minute changes unless the school reimburses them. Taking to social media to vent his frustration, dad Anthony Coffey said the school had “just decided to change the year 10 and 11 uniform policy 72-48 hours before students return to start the year”.
He continues: “Considering most, if not all parents have already purchased the business attire uniforms, to say [they’re] incompetent is putting it nicely. I for one will be sending my child in with the uniform of the previous policy unless they want to reimburse us all. As for corrections due to it, my child will not be doing them.”
He said he bought his daughter’s uniform on Thursday – ‘and was referring to the active policy on their website when getting it’ – but says the website was then updated to state that collars are necessary. One mum described it as ‘a p*** take to put a notice out two days before they go back’
She stated: “I used the website about five weeks ago as a guideline of what they can wear then I checked it last night and it’s all changed. All my daughter’s tops have no collars and I will not be buying any either.”
Mum Danielle said her daughter did her first day back on Monday and was told she was wearing the wrong blouse as it doesn’t have a collar. “I bought cotton blouses that came past the shoulder, with no collar,” she told the Manchester Evening News.
“It seems the no collar is the issue. As the original requirements that were listed on the website at the time of me purchasing her uniform on the second week of the holidays, insisted it must cover the shoulder, but did not insist on having a collar.
“But since then they have updated the uniform changes on the website after Thursday last week. Also apparently the children were told before they broke up, but as per Dixons Brooklands style they fail to communicate with the parents.”
The school’s policy states that: “At Dixons Brooklands Academy we are preparing students in Key Stage 4 for the professional world of work. In Years 10 and 11, students must wear appropriate business dress. Business attire refers to the clothing that employees wear to work. Our dress code is practical and allows a choice within very clear boundaries.”
Dixons Brooklands Academy said parents were informed of the uniform changes before the summer holidays. A spokesperson for Dixons Academies said: “We recently made an update to our uniform policy and let families know in a letter sent on 30 June. A reminder was communicated at a later date, including via social media channels.
“Previously, our policy stated that students wear ‘plain tops’ and this has now been changed to make explicit that a collar is required, which is more in line with our wider approach to professional attire. When we shared this with families, we had a few responses but none that objected, and we were pleased to see that almost all students came to school today dressed in the correct uniform.
“Any changes we make to school uniform are always led by our focus on safeguarding our children. We also listen closely to feedback and will always welcome conversations with families on any changes we implement.”
