A mother has withdrawn her 12-year-old daughter from Hundred of Hoo Academy in Rochester, Kent, after the girl was reportedly placed in isolation for wearing a skirt deemed 2cm too short. Cola Glenny, 34, said her daughter Pearl was left 'hysterical' following what she described as a 'military-style' inspection on Monday, during which teachers allegedly measured girls' skirts with rulers.
According to the school's uniform policy, skirt hems must be within 6cm of the top of the knee. Cola claims Pearl's skirt measured 8cm above the knee, leading to her being isolated in the main hall for the day without access to food or drink. The mother said she intends to homeschool Pearl until a suitable alternative school is found.
'Her skirt isn't too short to the eye; it is just 8cm above the knee because she is quite tall,' Cola said. 'If I got her any bigger then it would fall down at the waist and her knickers would be hanging out the top of her skirt.' She added that several other parents have also pulled their children out of the school in protest.
A school spokesperson defended the policy, stating that clear uniform standards help students present themselves professionally. They noted that parents were given until September 15 to replace skirts that no longer met requirements, and that the school would contact the family to offer support in sourcing an appropriate skirt.
