Boy, 11, was put in isolation for wearing shoes with a reflective strip to school and was only allowed to return to class after he'd coloured them in with a black marker pen 

  • Nathan Smith, 11, sent out of lesson at Cheadle Hulme High School, Manchester
  • He was sent into isolation and told to colour reflective strips in with a marker pen
  • His mother bought shoes from a school range and said other kids wear Converse

By Amie Gordon For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A schoolboy was sent into isolation and ordered to colour the reflective strip on his new shoes in with a black marker pen. 

Nathan Smith, 11, was sent out of his lesson at Cheadle Hulme High School in Manchester after a teacher spotted the reflective strips on the back of his footwear.

His furious mother Heather Smith has criticised the school, claiming she purchased the shoes from a school wear range - adding other children wear Converse'trainers to lessons.

Nathan Smith (pictured with his mother Heather) was sent out of his lesson after a teacher spotted the reflective strips on the back of his footwear - and told to colour it in

Nathan Smith (pictured with his mother Heather) was sent out of his lesson after a teacher spotted the reflective strips on the back of his footwear - and told to colour it in

The 11-year-old's schools were purchased from a school wear range at Next, according to his mother

The 11-year-old's schools were purchased from a school wear range at Next, according to his mother

Ms Smith said her son was placed in the isolation room for the day and told to colour the reflectors in with a black marker pen.

Only then was Nathan, who has ADHD, allowed back into his lesson, according to Ms Smith.

A spokesman for the school said the uniform policy is made clear to all parents.

The mother-of-two said: 'Nathan came home from school and said, "mum, you're going to have to get rid of those shoes" and explained what had happened.

'To be honest I have a bit of nightmare finding the right shoes for him anyway. We only got these at the end of last term.

'They're black velcro trainers from the school shoe section in Next. When Nathan told me what had happened I couldn't believe it.

'Not only that he was then told to colour the strip in with a black marker pen. When he went back in the classroom and showed the teacher Nathan said his teacher went "Oh, fabulous". 

'I'm not being funny but they're almost brand new shoes.

'What I don't understand is why other children are allowed to wear black Converse trainers but I'm told Nathan's are unacceptable.'

Nathan's furious mother said: 'What I don't understand is why other children are allowed to wear black Converse trainers but I'm told Nathan's are unacceptable'

Nathan's furious mother said: 'What I don't understand is why other children are allowed to wear black Converse trainers but I'm told Nathan's are unacceptable'

A spokesman for Cheadle Hulme High School said the school's uniform policy was made clear to all parents at the beginning of term

A spokesman for Cheadle Hulme High School said the school's uniform policy was made clear to all parents at the beginning of term

When Ms Smith contacted the school about the shoes on Thursday she was told her son's behaviour had also been an issue that week.

She added: 'I was told that his lack of attention in class had been a problem over the previous few days.

'The thing is he does have a disability and does struggle at school sometimes. But Nathan a lovely lad. He's not naughty at all.

'If his behaviour had been a problem why hadn't they told me about it?

'I just thought it was harsh to punish him for something that wasn't his fault.'

A spokesman for Cheadle Hulme High School said the school's uniform policy was made clear to all parents at the beginning of term.

Guidelines given out to parents state that trainers are not allowed 'in keeping with the smart appearance of a school uniform'.

Head teacher Linda Magrath added: 'Our understanding is that this issue has now been dealt with to everyone's satisfaction.' 

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