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Schools 'can suspend informally' Schools 'can suspend informally'
(20 minutes later)
Education ministers insist schools in England can send children home to get changed if they break rules on uniform.Education ministers insist schools in England can send children home to get changed if they break rules on uniform.
They can use "common sense" and do not have to formally exclude pupils who break dress codes, Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said.They can use "common sense" and do not have to formally exclude pupils who break dress codes, Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said.
He spoke out after officials apparently criticised a school near Doncaster.He spoke out after officials apparently criticised a school near Doncaster.
A family had complained their daughter had been sent home from the Trinity Academy for having nail extensions and their son for having spiky hair.A family had complained their daughter had been sent home from the Trinity Academy for having nail extensions and their son for having spiky hair.
Their case had been raised with the Department for Education and Skills by a local councillor who had received a letter from officials saying the school should not send children home "informally".Their case had been raised with the Department for Education and Skills by a local councillor who had received a letter from officials saying the school should not send children home "informally".
The letter said "in cases where the school feels the pupil should not be on site as a result of their actions and the situation cannot be resolved immediately, an exclusion is the only way forward".The letter said "in cases where the school feels the pupil should not be on site as a result of their actions and the situation cannot be resolved immediately, an exclusion is the only way forward".
Representatives of the Christian Emmanuel Schools Foundation, which runs the academy, say they send children home informally because they do not want to "blight" pupils' records with a full exclusion for a minor matter. Representatives of the Christian Emmanuel Schools Foundation, which runs the academy in Thorne, say they send children home informally because they do not want to "blight" pupils' records with a full exclusion for a minor matter.
'Nonsense''Nonsense'
Lord Adonis said: "It is nonsense to suggest that schools cannot send pupils home to change into the correct uniform.Lord Adonis said: "It is nonsense to suggest that schools cannot send pupils home to change into the correct uniform.
"Indeed we fully support heads in taking a tough line to enforce school rules and dress codes."Indeed we fully support heads in taking a tough line to enforce school rules and dress codes.
"Heads can of course authorise absences to send pupils home for a brief period to change as soon as possible, then return to school."Heads can of course authorise absences to send pupils home for a brief period to change as soon as possible, then return to school.
"This would be the usual approach to a first offence, but where rule-breaking is persistent, our guidelines clearly state that schools can formally exclude pupils."This would be the usual approach to a first offence, but where rule-breaking is persistent, our guidelines clearly state that schools can formally exclude pupils.
"Of course it is important that schools have a record of the pupil's absence which is why we caution against so-called 'informal exclusions' where pupils are sent home unofficially for indefinite periods.""Of course it is important that schools have a record of the pupil's absence which is why we caution against so-called 'informal exclusions' where pupils are sent home unofficially for indefinite periods."
Head teachers insist it is right to send pupils home for a short period if they are not wearing the correct uniform.Head teachers insist it is right to send pupils home for a short period if they are not wearing the correct uniform.
John Dunford, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was also what parents would expect.John Dunford, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it was also what parents would expect.