'My daughter is a model student but I've pulled her from school over sock row and staff losses'

A mum has pulled her teenage daughter out of school in a row over its uniform policy and swift departure of staff.

Girls at Irlam and Cadishead Academy, in Irlam, Salford, were previously told to wear knee length black socks and Wendy Allsopp's daughter Olivia, in Year 9, was one of a few students chosen to appear in the school's open evening poster displaying the uniform.

But this academic year, the longer socks have been replaced with ankle socks in a policy change that Wendy says wasn't adequately communicated to parents - mentioned briefly in an end of summer term pastoral letter and not a specific uniform update, which she believes was necessary.

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The school says the move was requested by 'a large number of female students and trialled during the previous academic year' and that parents were notified 'through both letters and the Parent Handbook'.

Girls also have a choice to wear either tights or trousers, but Wendy says it can sometimes to be too warm for those and students looked much smarter in the full length socks.

"We've had mixed stories as to how this change even came about," said Wendy. "Olivia was told two girls in her year were told that if they got more than 100 signatures on a petition, they would be allowed to wear the ankle socks. If that's the case there are 360 female students at that school, so it's not a majority by any stretch of the imagination.

"The school is saying it was their Student Voices who made the decision. Either way, it's not the way you decide a change to the uniform policy. Parents need to be properly consulted."

Explaining her concerns around the ankle socks, she said: "It's the fact they haven't considered that you've got young girls aged 11 to 16 walking to and from school literally exposed from above the knee to their ankles early in the morning. These girls need to be protected.

"You're also going to have new starters in Year 7 feeling pressured into shaving their legs and probably cutting themselves."

But her concerns about the school are much wider than just the uniform. Eighteen members of staff have left since the new headteacher Chris Leader took over in September 2023.

Among them were Olivia's form teacher and her French teacher, leaving the 13-year-old feeling unsettled and her love of education and school 'destroyed'.

"This has been building for a while with Olivia," said mum-of-five Wendy, whose three older children went to the same school. "Her form teacher was a French teacher too and now all three French teachers have gone. She was supposed to be going on a trip to Paris in October and a science teacher has had to take over running that.

"So many good, experienced teachers have left, some of whom had been there for 20 years."

She added: "Olivia is without a doubt a model student, she was top of her year group in two key subjects, she was performing academically way above the other students in her year. She has represented the school numerous times, particularly for Shakespeare in Schools and was always the child teachers knew they could rely on."

Earlier this year the academy was given a Good rating by Ofsted inspectors who praised the culture of 'high expectations' and the 'calm atmosphere', as well as the 'journey of improvement' it has been on in recent years. In particular, Inspectors highlighted how 'many staff and pupils commented that pupils’ behaviour is much improved and that learning is rarely disrupted'.

Students were described as being 'happy in this tight-knit school community' and enjoy 'strong relationships' with staff, ensuring they feel safe. The report describes students as respectful, well behaved and as having 'high' aspirations because the school 'instils self-belief' into them.

Despite this, Wendy has now asked the school to deregister Olivia and has already enrolled her at UTC Media City, a university technical college for 13 to 18-year-olds in Salford Quays, which is a bus and tram journey away from her home.

The uniform there is a UTC polo shirt, a UTC hoodie and either black trousers, cargo pants, jeans or leggings, or a black skirt with black tights. Plain black shoes, boots or trainers are allowed.

Wendy, 49, has asked that any photos of Olivia are removed from Irlam and Cadishead Academy's website and social media platforms and says it's odd that the poster advertising the school features the old uniform.

United Learning Trust, of which the school is part, confirmed that since September 2023, 10 full-time teaching staff have left the academy as well as eight members of staff who were either part time teachers or held administrative roles.

A spokesperson for Irlam and Cadishead Academy said: “The minor change around uniform was made at the request of a large number of female students and trialled during the previous academic year.

"The updated policy was communicated to parents before the summer holiday through both letters and the Parent Handbook along with a reminder that students are also able to wear tights or trousers.

"Almost all students wore the correct uniform on the first day of term with over a week’s grace period given and uniform provided to any students who did not have the right item. No students have complained to the academy about this change."

The spokesperson added: “Like any school, there is natural movement of staff and over the past year, staff have left the academy for a number of reasons including retirement, choosing to work closer to home and promotions at other schools.

"We have a full team of excellent staff at the academy with subject specialists teaching a broad and wide-ranging curriculum. We are fortunate to have a community of very supportive parents who are working with us as we continue to drive standards and build on our recent Good Ofsted judgement.”