Danielle Gregory, 35, has criticised the "stupid" uniform policy at Thorp Academy in Ryton after her daughter Eva Patterson, 12, was suspended twice during her first week of Year 8. The suspensions came after staff said Eva's "skirt was too short" and then her "trousers were too tight".
First day dispute over skirt length
Eva started her first day of Year 8 on September 2, but returned home saying she had been "told off" because a staff member said her "skirt was too short", forcing her to "crouch around" all day. The skirt, bought from school uniform supplier Michael Sehgal, measured about 22cm in length.
The following day, Eva wore the same skirt but was refused entry and sent home because it "did not fall below the knee". Danielle then bought Eva a pair of £12 black trousers from Primark, but on the next day Eva was suspended again—before reaching the school gates—after staff said her "trousers were too tight".
Parent's frustration
According to the school's uniform policy, skirts should "sit on the knee in length" while black trousers must be a "tailored regular fit" and not "pencil-tight trousers". Danielle said her daughter, who is 5ft 6in, is "taller than most in her class" and that "finding a skirt that fits around the waist and is the right length is near impossible".
Since the ordeal, Danielle said Eva has been left "extremely upset". Danielle has bought £28 of tailored trousers from Marks and Spencer in the hope Eva won't be suspended for a third time.
Danielle, from Ryton, said: "The school uniform rules have gone too far and I don't understand the rationale behind it. It's so stupid - and all she wants is an education.
"Poor Eva is so upset and feels like her first week at school - which is scary enough - has been completely ruined. She also feels targeted and will get in trouble no matter what she wears."
School's response
Danielle said the school did not phone or email her about the first incident, and she only heard from her daughter who had been "crouching down for six hours trying to make the skirt look longer". On the second day, she received a call at about 9:40am saying Eva had been suspended because of her skirt. The following day, another call at 8:20am said Eva had been suspended again because her trousers were "too tight".
Danielle has made a complaint to the school's headteacher and trust for her daughter's suspension to be lifted. Eva added: "It feels like I'm the only one getting targeted - especially as other people wore the same trousers as me."
A spokesperson from the Northern Education Trust said: "Thorp Academy is committed to maintaining the high standards that ensure consistently good outcomes for our students. Our uniform expectations were shared with families on multiple occasions throughout last academic year and most recently on Tuesday September 2, 2026. Assemblies took place with students well in advance of the summer holidays. Information was also shared multiple times over social media throughout the summer holidays. All our policies are applied consistently and fairly. To support families and remove barriers, we have invested significantly in brand new uniform which we have given free of charge to families that have come into the academy and worked with us. We cannot comment on individual cases, but we strongly encourage parents with any concerns to speak directly to the academy. We will always work with families to resolve issues, and believe that direct conversation with the school, rather than through the media, is the most constructive way to do that."
