Essex mother says Mossbourne Fobbing Academy bullied 11-year-old over skirt, isolation
Mother says Milan Jones was kept in isolation for most of a school day despite wearing the largest uniform size; school disputes claims and says it attempted to contact the family.
An Essex mother has accused Mossbourne Fobbing Academy of bullying after her 11-year-old daughter was kept in isolation for most of a school day over a skirt deemed too short, despite wearing the largest size available. Milan Jones, entering Year 7 and standing about 5ft 6in, joined Mossbourne Fobbing in September. The school, formerly Gable Hall, was taken over last year by the Mossbourne Federation, a Hackney-based academy group that runs two secondary schools and a sixth form and has a reputation for strict discipline.
On Milan's second day, a teacher stopped her and said her skirt was short. The family says Milan's uniform was bought in the largest size available, and a supplier told them the length is the maximum allowed in the United Kingdom for school uniforms. Milan was placed in isolation and remained there for the day. Ms Jones says the school told her they had tried to call, but she denies ever receiving a missed call. When she asked staff for the number, she was told: "I am not obliged to prove anything to you." "My daughter is in fear," she said, adding that Milan is a respectful pupil who always follows the rules. The mother described the day as a milita ry-style regime and said Milan was told to eat lunch in silence and to stay inside the room with limited breaks.
During the rest of the day Milan remained in isolation from 8:15 a.m. until about 4 p.m. She was not allowed to look outside during lunch, and she was told to drink water and that she would be fine. She has asthma and a nut allergy, and the prolonged confinement left her feeling nauseous at times. Her mother says Milan came home in tears and now fears returning to school, worrying that she could be singled out again.
The Mossbourne Federation, which took over Mossbourne Fobbing last year, has a track record that has sparked complaints from some parents about the mental health impact of its discipline policies. The federation has said it does not recognise the characterisation of its schools as punitive and said it has taken complaints seriously, including investigations with external reviews, but has not raised concerns. The Daily Mail approached Mossbourne Fobbing for comment.