A schoolgirl who recently lost her dad to suicide has been left devastated after she was told she cannot wear her earrings to school – which she says have been a great comfort following her father's death.
Geraldine Lloyd, 43, from Huyton, claims her daughter India Lloyd, 11, was pulled out of her class and forced to face the wall over her "barely noticeable" earrings at The Prescot School in Liverpool.
The studs, which include a silver diamond from India's great-grandma's engagement ring, have recently been rejected from the school's uniform policy.
But healthcare worker Geraldine says her daughter had been allowed to wear the earrings throughout primary school and did not expect there to be a problem when she started high school this month, reports Liverpool Echo.
Geraldine had been in discussions with senior teachers at the school for the previous two weeks, and was happy to cover them with plaster or tape, but today a decision was made that the earrings would not be permitted.
India told the ECHO: "I came in from break and the teacher was waiting outside the place where we go into art lessons and told me to wait outside.
"They took me to the removal room and told me to sit down, and they read me the removal room rules.
"I got told I had to face forward and I couldn't turn around.
"I was quite sad and upset because my earrings make me feel safe, but I didn't want to miss any school because I like it."
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Geraldine said her daughter sent her a text explaining what had happened.
"She told me she had to face the front and couldn't look around, and she not been given any work to do or any lessons," she said.
"I went straight down to the school and said I am taking my child out of there, I would rather her be at home with me than staring at a wall in there doing nothing.
"I was so angry because they pulled her out of art and she loves art.
"I just don't think they are taking into account what she has been going through. She has been to hell and back in the past few years, and the earrings keep her grounded and make her feel safe.
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"The earrings are so tiny, you can barely notice them. They told me they need to prepare the children for adulthood but this is not doing that, you are allowed to wear studs in a job when you work.
"I just think the school need to re-look at the whole outcome and their policies when the child has been allowed to wear the earrings from the age of 2-11.
"No policy is set in stone and there can always be allowances."
A spokesperson for The Prescot School said: “At the start of any school year, but particularly after the challenges of Covid, it is important that we set out school expectations to ensure that our community is a happy place where every child is able to thrive.
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“That is why we have made a significant effort to evolve our standards and expectations, all of which were communicated in advance of the summer break.
"We are delighted that students have come back so focused, and the atmosphere in the school has been really calm. That is, in part, down to us having much clearer boundaries about what is and isn’t allowed.
"Not only do we want to ensure that the rules are applied fairly and consistently, but we would also hate for such an important item to be lost.
“We will continue to support the student in any way that we can.”
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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