PARENTS are 'outraged' over a school uniform row that has led to children's lockers allegedly being 'raided' and humiliated in class for not wearing a school's logo.

Pupils at Ryders Hayes School in Walsall have been told they must have coats, bags and PE kits with school logos on for "health and safety" reasons.

The change in school uniform policy is due to the school moving from a one form entry to a two form entry and staff say there is not enough space for the additional children to store bulky coats.

Following a consultation, the school came up with a uniform that would be suitable to fit into lockers, they said.

But fuming parents claim teachers have "humiliated" their kids by allegedly making them stand up in class to explain why they are not wearing correct uniform.

Tammy Fulford from Rushall has been sending her kids to Ryders Hayes for 14 years but is trying to move her daughter Teigan, eight, to a different school where her four year old twins attend.

She said: "If I had to buy all this additional uniform for Teigan and the twins it would cost me around £150 and that's on top of all the regular logo uniform like jumpers, skirts and shirts."

She claimed: "Children are being sent home due to not having correct uniform, they are standing children in infant and junior school in front of the class to explain why they haven’t got the correct uniform and also going through lockers and checking their stuff."

One parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "At meeting in July we were told this was going to happen and if we did not comply children would be expelled.

"The minute I dropped my boys off, the school rang to ask why I hadn’t put them in the coat and informed action would be taken if I didn’t buy the now compulsory items."

"I told them I couldn’t afford to be buying two extra coats... My child is among many who have been made to stand up in class and explain why they haven’t got the school coat."

"Teachers have gone through lockers to find children who have not got the coat, bag and PE kit. My child came home and said he felt humiliated by this treatment. Parents have sent complaints after complaints and are not being listened to," they alleged.

Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed: "Parents have been questioned on the playground, children interrogated in front of the class and bags and lockers searched.

"There should be a limit on what a school can ask parents to pay for uniform and it should be reasonable, otherwise we have no say in what we buy our children and no option to shop around to suit our budget."

In a statement, Ryder Hayes said: "Ryders Hayes first informed parents of the decision to change the school uniform in July 2017... The change was brought in because children have been coming into school with large bags and coats which cause a health and safety hazard given the size of the school corridors.

"The school has purchased lockers to fit the new bags and coats which will ensure that this is no longer a hazard.

"The school has listened to parents and has made some changes to the uniform requirements. Four
formal complaints have been received for over 500 children, which have all been addressed."

They added the "vast majority" of parents bought the uniform, and the school went to "great lengths to supply good quality items" with coats costing a maximum of £28 and bags available at £8.

A payment plan is in place for those wishing to pay over a six month period, the school said, and is financially supporting a number of parents.

They added: "The school has communicated by letter or face to face with parents rather than with their children, where children are not wearing school uniform, to ascertain the reason. Where parents are refusing to purchase the uniform, the DfE guidance is being followed."