A secondary school has been accused of having a "Dickensian attitude" towards children after school uniform policies prevented a pupil from wearing their own winter coat.
Aaron Bayley said Jesmond Park Academy confiscated his son's winter coat during freezing temperatures as he was not wearing the jacket specified in the academy's school uniform policy. Under the policy, all pupils must wear a black Canterbury-branded jacket with the school's logo embroidered on the front.
But after his son, Levon, was admitted to hospital with suspected Strep A in November, Aaron claims he was told by the staff treating his son that the school coat he was wearing was not suitable. Levon, aged 12, was later diagnosed with flu and following his return to school his parents allowed him to wear a thick winter coat if temperatures plummeted.
