Essex school skirt-row: mother alleges bullying after 11-year-old kept in isolation over length of uniform

An Essex mother is accusing Mossbourne Fobbing Academy of bullying after her 11-year-old daughter was kept in isolation for the entire school day because her skirt was deemed too short, despite the family buying the largest available size. Milan Jones, who has just started Year 7 at Mossbourne Fobbing in Corringham, was told to stay in isolation on what her mother says should have been her first full week in the school.

Hazel Jones, who runs an online retail business, said Milan — who stands about 5ft 6in — joined Mossbourne Fobbing in September and had her uniform checked by teachers from the outset. On Milan’s second day, a teacher reportedly told her the skirt was too short. Ms Jones said Milan’s appearance was in line with the uniform policy, and she questions why other pupils with shorter skirts were not reprimanded. The family says Milan was kept in isolation from about 8:15 a.m. until around 4 p.m., and was not allowed to look outside during lunch. The incident left Milan terrified about returning to school, her mother said.

Ms Jones said the school told her they had tried to phone to inform her of the incident, but she denies ever receiving a call and only learned of the punishment when Milan came home in tears. When she asked staff for the number they claimed they had tried to contact, she says a staff member replied: "I am not obliged to prove anything to you." The mother added: "My daughter is in fear. I think to myself, is that what I want for my child, as a parent? It’s a military style school. Milan Jones, who is 5ft 6in at age 11, was put into isolation after teachers deemed her skirt not long enough."

Jones said on Monday that Milan’s skirt length was not the sole issue on the second day: the pupil had just one toilet break all day and was required to eat lunch in silence, with limited time outside. She claimed Milan has asthma and a nut allergy, and the prolonged period with her head down and restricted movement caused discomfort and nausea. After the day ended, the mother attempted to resolve the matter with staff the next day, but was told to return the following morning to speak with administrators. When she questioned why her daughter had been isolated despite what she viewed as an adequate skirt length, a staff member allegedly replied: "I don’t have to explain myself." The mother also asked for proof that the school had the correct phone number for her, only to be told again: "I am not obliged to prove anything to you."

Citing the family’s experience,Ms Jones said Milan now lives in fear of going to school. "She’s scared every time she’s doing work that they say she’s not doing something right, she thinks, ‘Oh my God, are they going to put me in isolation?’" she said. Milan was finally picked up each day by her parents, but Ms Jones said the fear of punishment lingered.

Mossbourne Fobbing Academy — formerly Gable Hall — was taken over last year by the Mossbourne Federation, a Hackney-based trust that runs several schools and has faced criticism from some parents who say disciplinary policies can harm students’ mental health. The federation has rejected characterisations of its schools as punitive, saying it takes complaints seriously and has conducted external reviews when concerns were raised. The federation did not respond to a request for comment about this incident.

Milan’s family said the incident occurred in the second week after she started at Mossbourne Fobbing, and that her parents ensured she was in proper uniform prior to term start. They described the experience as part of a broader pattern of discipline that they believe is harming students’ well-being and morale. The Daily Mail contacted Mossbourne Fobbing Academy for comment; no official statement was provided at the time of publication.