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| Girl in union jack couldn't give 'British' speech at Rugby school | Girl in union jack couldn't give 'British' speech at Rugby school |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The 12-year-old was collected by her dad after she wore the dress on Culture Celebration Day | |
| A Warwickshire school has offered "unreserved apologies" to a student prevented from making a speech at school about being British, while wearing a union jack dress. | A Warwickshire school has offered "unreserved apologies" to a student prevented from making a speech at school about being British, while wearing a union jack dress. |
| The 12-year-old, who attends Bilton School in Rugby, wore the outfit for Culture Celebration Day on Friday. | The 12-year-old, who attends Bilton School in Rugby, wore the outfit for Culture Celebration Day on Friday. |
| Her father, Stuart Field, said: "My daughter felt like there was an issue, she felt like it was something she shouldn't have done. That's what is wrong about this whole situation." | Her father, Stuart Field, said: "My daughter felt like there was an issue, she felt like it was something she shouldn't have done. That's what is wrong about this whole situation." |
| A spokesperson for the school said: "We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies." | A spokesperson for the school said: "We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies." |
| Mr Field said in a Facebook post he picked his daughter up early from school after the incident. | Mr Field said in a Facebook post he picked his daughter up early from school after the incident. |
| Discussing the reaction to the incident, Mr Field said he had had messages of support from across the globe. | Discussing the reaction to the incident, Mr Field said he had had messages of support from across the globe. |
| "I've had hundreds of people reaching out to me from all over the UK, as well as Australians, I've had Polish, people from America all reaching out," he said. | "I've had hundreds of people reaching out to me from all over the UK, as well as Australians, I've had Polish, people from America all reaching out," he said. |
| "And there's a common thing - we should be able to send our kids into school to celebrate British culture and history." | "And there's a common thing - we should be able to send our kids into school to celebrate British culture and history." |
| Stuart Field said his daughter was made to feel like she should not have worn her dress | |
| Mr Field said the school had now invited his daughter to come back in her dress and read a speech about why British culture was important to her. | Mr Field said the school had now invited his daughter to come back in her dress and read a speech about why British culture was important to her. |
| But he told the BBC that she now "doesn't want to wear the dress" as "she doesn't feel comfortable". | But he told the BBC that she now "doesn't want to wear the dress" as "she doesn't feel comfortable". |
| Mr Field added: "None of this would have happened had [the school] just followed their own policy of inclusivity and let everyone share a little about their culture." | Mr Field added: "None of this would have happened had [the school] just followed their own policy of inclusivity and let everyone share a little about their culture." |
| And he said: "I don't think anyone from school really read her speech. It was more a case of 'no, it's not happening'." | And he said: "I don't think anyone from school really read her speech. It was more a case of 'no, it's not happening'." |
| 'Caused considerable upset' | 'Caused considerable upset' |
| A statement from Bilton School said: "We are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. | A statement from Bilton School said: "We are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. |
| "We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included. | "We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included. |
| "On 11 July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community." | "On 11 July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community." |
| The school said it apologised, before the statement added: "We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. | The school said it apologised, before the statement added: "We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. |
| "We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage." | "We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage." |
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