In a letter to parents, Bilton School in Rugby said it is closing ‘in the interests of student and staff safety’ following threats
A school has been forced to close early for the summer after receiving extremist threats after reportedly isolating girl for wearing a Union flag dress to inclusion day.
In a letter to parents, Bilton School in Rugby said it is closing “in the interests of student and staff safety” following threats.
The letter, which was sent out on Thursday, told parents the school would be shuttered earlier than usual. School officials said they had decided to do so due to “extremist abuse online and via our telephone systems”.
“The nature and tone of this abuse has escalated in recent days, including personal threats to our staff,” the letter continued.
On arrival at the school, Courtney was told her outfit – a sequined Union Flag dress inspired by the Spice Girls – was “unacceptable”. She was then told to sit alone in reception until her dad could get off work to pick her up.
Speaking to the Express, she said: “It upset me because I came in really proud, I bought the dress, I chose it myself … and then I was told I am not allowed in lessons.”
“The nature and tone of [the] abuse has escalated in recent days, including personal threats to staff,” the school said, as per LBC, explaining why pupils wouldn’t come in for a half-day on Friday as previously scheduled.
“Our primary responsibility remains the safety and wellbeing of every child and member of staff. This is not a decision we have taken lightly … the safety of our school community must come first.”
The decision sparked uproar in the UK and further abroad, with messages of support emerging from countries like Australia and Poland.
The school issued an apology shortly after the row was made public in which they said they would “reflect on how [it] could have been handled better”.
“We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies,” a statement released shortly after the news broke read.
“We are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect and understanding for all.”
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