'Scruffy' pupils warned they could be excluded from school

Students at a south Shropshire school could face exclusion if they fail to adhere to a uniform policy - after claims that some pupils looked 'scruffy'.

People have reported the 'scruffy appearance' of pupils at Bishop's Castle Community College on their way to and from school.

And staff have responded by reminding pupils of what they can and cannot wear as part of their uniform in an article in the school's The Messenger magazine.

Teachers have claimed the move has been designed to avoid using sanctions - but have warned that if students continually fail to co-operate they could face exclusion as a last resort.

According to the article, students are should wear a polo shirt or jumper with the school logo on it and not hooded sweatshirts.

Shoes must be plain and black and trainers are not permitted, while students can wear a watch and one pair of earrings but are not allowed make-up, jewellery or additional piercings.

The article says: "The aim is to remove any form of discrimination and avoid the need for sanctions.

"These range from a student being timed-out until a parent can deliver the correct uniform, to a fixed period of exclusion if the student is refusing to co-operate."

Julie Griffiths, assistant head of Bishop's Castle Community College, said the uniform policy was 'standard practice' for any secondary school.

She said: "I would imagine any school uniform is a focus - it's a soft target for students to try and express themselves as individuals.

"Most of the comments we receive are informal and it's a perception rather than reality that the students are scruffy.

"It's perhaps one or two rather than everybody."