Sussex school bans Nike Air Force 1s and trainers in uniform crackdown

Children were apparently surprised when they turned up to Longhill High School in Ovingdean after the Easter break on Monday, April 15.

Pupils without appropriate footwear were taken to classrooms where calls were made to their parents to ask if they had forgotten them or if they needed shoes lent by the school.

Parents said the school tried to crack down on footwear in 2019 but relaxed it again after lockdown.

But the school said the uniform policy has been in place for at least ten years and wearing smart shoes “fosters a different mindset” to being at home.

New headteacher Rachelle Otulakowski joined the school in September last year and said she advised parents in January that the school would be reinforcing its school shoe policy from April after the Easter break.

She said she has been buying shoes for pupils and letting them select pairs they want.

Some students were said to be all black Nike Air Force 1 trainers to school. Stock image (Image: Wallace Chuck/Pexels)

Mrs Otulakowski said: “Our policy has always been black leather school shoes, no trainers, it is not a new policy. When I realised after being here for a month that some children weren't wearing them, I knew I had to remind parents of the rule and re-enforce it, particularly as I had new Year 7 parents complaining that their children were wearing school shoes but others weren't.

“These parents were facing pressure from their children to buy expensive Nike Air Force trainers for them to wear, having already bought shoes for them. I had already begun re-enforcing our rule to wear blazers, which parents accepted. I helped parents by buying blazers for any parent who was struggling financially. The next step was re-enforcing school shoes.

“I reminded parents every week in my parent letter that this was the expectation and shared a form for them to complete if they wanted me to order them some shoes which I would pay for.

“The local authority recognised that as a school that is trying to improve its behaviour, smartening up students was a good start and so they were happy to give me some ringfenced funding for any student who needed shoes.

A list of shoes that the school sent out two months ago to guide parents on the correct footwear (Image: Supplied)

“I have met several parents this week including two on Friday, to explain that being smart and dressed in clothes and shoes that you don't usually wear at home fosters a different mindset from the more relaxed mindset you would have at home.

“It reminds children that they are at school and here to learn. All the parents who I have met who complained initially are now supportive and their children are getting shoes.”

Mrs Otulakowski said she sent a list of examples of the correct footwear to parents in February.

A petition was set up by parents who asked for a “comfortable compromise”.

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One parent, who asked not to be named, said: “I think offices are relaxing rules and it feels outdated to have these rules. Why are they pushing that when they allow designer clothing and bags? I think it should a bit more relaxed.

“The school did send out letters but us parents have been trying to contact them about this for some time.

“People have already purchased uniforms and shoes for the year.”

Pupils wore skirts to Longhill High School to protest about not being allowed to wear shorts during the warmer months back in 2016.