Hundreds of students at Brisbane school caught up in uniform row

AFTER hundreds of students at a Brisbane school were caught up in a row about breaches of uniform policy, Queensland’s Minister for Education has urged parents and students to show some ‘common sense’.

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AFTER hundreds of students at a Brisbane school were caught up in a row about breaches of uniform policy, Queensland’s Minister for Education has urged parents and students to show some “common sense”.

A student was suspended from The Gap High School after posting a video online that showed students being dealt with for wearing the wrong shoes.

The high school is cracking down on the types of school shoes worn by students and those who don’t comply must obtain a uniform pass before school.

But when a student posted a short video to Facebook on Monday as hundreds of students mustered for their passes, he was suspended for three days. The video was also removed.

A post on The Gap Grapevine on Monday initially claimed 80 children received detention earlier that day, but was later updated to claim 460 were detained.

The two posts were later removed but another post claimed students were instead lining up for uniform passes, which the school insists on students collecting if they arrive in non-compliant shoes and clothing.

The school administration declined to comment but an Education Queensland spokesperson said The Gap State High are standing by their uniform policy.

“There have been no changes to the uniform policy at The Gap State High School since 2004,” the spokesperson said.

“The uniform policy was formulated by the school community and approved by the Parents and Citizens’ Association and is supported by both the P&C and community of The Gap SHS.

“The Gap State High School is very pleased with the overwhelming majority support of the school community regarding uniform standards and is focusing on the vast improvements in student pride in their appearance that is evident this year.

“Since the return to school in 2018 a relatively small number of students (less than 100 out of more than 1450 students) have not fully complied with agreed standards.

“The school is working with these students and their parents around this so that all students meet the expectations that have been set by the community.

“Queensland state schools are committed to working with families to find the best solution regarding genuine issues of hardship experienced by families including uniform related issues.”

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Karen Bishop says the crackdown on shoes is “uniform policy gone mad”. Picture: Ric Frearson/AAP

Queensland Teachers Union President Kevin Bates said 103 students had been sent to detention but defended the policy.

“The crucial thing here is that this is the school uniform policy that’s been determined through consultation with the local community, with parents. It’s approved by the P & C,” Mr Bates told ABC radio.

Mr Bates was concerned the issue had caused arguments between parents on social media and said the appropriate channel for discussion was P & C meetings.

“I think the P & C meeting next Monday night will be a lot fuller than what it usually is,” Ms Bates said.

A parent also claimed a student who took a photo of the line-up received a three-day detention.

Minister for Education Grace Grace said it is up to the school community to determine their school uniform policy.

“It’s not for me to dictate,” she said.

“I know there are health and safety issues around the height of heels that may be important to that particular school.”

“The numbers (of detentions) at the moment have been over exaggerated in that school but it is also concerning that here I am today on Safe internet Day that we are also hearing that there has been some very poor performance in relation to the use of social media.

“I would encourage everyone to have a healthy commonsense debate on this issue but of course, if a policy is there, it should be enforced.

“From my understanding, there were two weeks where students were informed quite effectively what the school policy was and less than 100 students were given some sort of action in relation to not wearing the proper uniform.

The row comes after the daughter of a parent who spoke out last week to The Courier-Mail about The Gap’s shoes policy was given detention. The story made national headlines.

The school later offered to buy the girl shoes which complied with its guidelines.

Karen Bishop said she had bought good quality black lace-up shoes for her daughter, but because the heel was not within the 5-20mm range stipulated in the school’s uniform list they were deemed unacceptable.

Ms Bishop said after her daughter was given detention on Tuesday last week she spoke to the deputy principal, the detention was lifted and an offer was made to buy shoes which complied.

Today Ms Bishop said it’s “uniform policy gone mad”.

Ms Bishop said she doesn’t want her daughter’s education to be affected by being sent to detention.

“It’s just crazy,” she told ABC radio this morning.

One father dropping his daughter off at school told the The Courier-Mail the school was “almost like a concentration camp.”

Other parents argue dress rules will prepare students for work.

Dr Karen Lovelace, who has students in year 10 and 11 at the school, said she supported the crackdown.

“The communications have been clear, they’ve been done in a range of formats,” she said.

“Our beautiful principal has provided information in written, in pictures and in words to the children late last year on numerous occasions.

“It’s a very good school, and one of the reasons it’s a good school is the respect everyone pays each other, and the attention to detail in terms of safety.

“The school has been very supportive of families who find themselves in a position where they are unable to afford replacement shoes.”

Minister Grace Grace today said it was up to schools to develop policy, and that the school community had been informed. File picture

Minister for Education Grace Grace said it is up to the school community to determine their school uniform policy.

“It’s not for me to dictate,” she said.

“I know there are health and safety issues around the height of heels that may be important to that particular school.”

“The numbers at the moment have been over exaggerated in that school but it is also concerning that here I am today on Safe internet Day that we are also hearing that there has been some very poor performance in relation to the use of social media.

“I would encourage everyone to have a healthy common sense debate on this issue but of course, if a policy is there, it should be enforced.

“From my understanding, there were two weeks where students were informed quite effectively what the school policy was and less than a hundred students were given some sort of action in relation to not wearing the proper uniform.

“As I said, it’s up to the local schools to develop their policy and to enforce it and clearly the message needs to come through but I think everyone needs to take a commonsense approach to this — I think everyone is and it is concerning that there has been some poor behaviour in relation to this matter.

“But hopefully the message can get through.

“I support the school community and the principal in implementing a school uniform policy ensuring to keep students safe and that they enforce that policy.

“I support that at a local level, you don’t just pick out a few if the uniform is not being worn according to policy.

“Clearly those that breach those rules need to be done as a collective and I support them in making sure that the uniform policy is adhered to.”