Mum Hits Out After Daughter Suspended Over Trainers: ‘She’s Just Got Sore Feet’
Sammi Castle is speaking out against what she calls unfair treatment after her 13-year-old daughter, Maisie Castle-Dalton, was suspended from school for wearing trainers to alleviate painful blisters caused by her new shoes. The incident occurred after Maisie developed blisters from her new Kickers on her first day back at school.
To keep her daughter comfortable, Sammi sent Maisie to school the next day in plain black Nike trainers. Maisie wore the trainers all Thursday without issue, but things changed on Friday. The school informed her that wearing the trainers would result in being placed under supervision – isolated all day without breaks, with lunch brought to her.
Maisie refused to accept this punishment, and as a result, she was suspended for the remainder of the day, forcing her mum to pick her up. Sammi, frustrated by the school’s decision, said, “I don’t get why she has to be suspended. She wants to be in school. She’s not been naughty, she’s just got sore feet.”
Sammi recounted the school’s handling of the situation, including how the teacher dismissed Maisie’s discomfort. “The teacher brought her to me, and I showed a picture of Maisie’s blisters. They said they offered alternative footwear, but I’m not putting her in shoes I don’t know the source of,” Sammi explained. “There’s just no compassion at all.”
To make matters worse, Maisie’s GP refused to provide a doctor’s note, citing the dispute as a uniform issue. Sammi noted how the headteacher initially promised Maisie would receive a note excusing her on Monday, but it never came. “She refused to go, and I’m refusing for her to go as well,” Sammi stated, frustrated by the lack of resolution.
Sammi also highlighted other instances where the school’s strict policies had been an issue. “Last year, Maisie felt sick, and they wouldn’t let her come home. I had to fight to get her out, and when we got home, she was sick everywhere,” Sammi added.
Responding to the incident, a spokesperson for Denton Community College defended the school’s policies, stating, “We have the highest expectations of student conduct and uniform. These high expectations have resulted in significant improvements at Denton this summer.” The school emphasized that they had been working with Sammi to resolve the matter.
For now, Sammi remains frustrated, believing the school’s handling of the situation lacked empathy and fairness. “Why does she have to be punished for having sore feet?” she questioned.