Pupils put in 'isolation' for wearing cancer support badges

[Prosiary]

Around 70 pupils were put in ‘isolation’ at The Grange School in Runcorn after they refused to remove charity ribbons from their blazers.

Furious parents complained that their children should be in class preparing for GCSEs.

They said most of the school’s ire had been over students wearing yellow Marie Curie Cancer Care daffodils.

Lily, 16, called the ECHO from the isolation unit, where she and around 20 other pupils were being held.

Writing at about noon, she said there were 60-70 children excluded from class over the issue.

While on the phone a member of staff asked her to hang up.

Parents and pupils say Marie Curie ribbons are being worn because of the number of students whose parents or grandparents have suffered or died from cancer.

The school’s policy also provoked many of the teenagers to don the ribbons in solidarity with their classmates.

Lily said two rooms were now being used for isolated students.

She added that one teacher had also shown his support by donning a yellow ribbon.

Corinne Versleys, whose daughter Caitlin Mulchrane is among those in isolation, said: “The Grange School are putting children in the isolation unit for wearing those flowers.

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. All it is is a little flower.

“The majority of kids wearing them are dealing with family members with cancer and they’re being told to remove them. I think it’s absolutely pathetic.”

Lily said: “We have been taken out of lessons while we have got our GCSEs because we won’t take off our charity badges.

“We’ve been here about an hour. They’re planning on keeping us here all day.

“It jeopardises our learning and we’ve got exams soon.

“We’ve got cancer badges and ribbons on our blazers.

“They’re saying it isn’t part of school uniform and because of singling out charities over others.”

Anne Jackson, North West Cancer Research, took to social media to support the pupils.

She said: "We do so much work with schools and colleges trying to raise awareness of cancer, its symptoms, the importance of research and the vital support we need from the public.

"These young people want to make a difference and they should be encouraged and applauded not put into 'hiding'. Shame on all involved."

- Liverpool Echo

As a former pupil of the school, I am disgusted with people getting punished for supporting a charity by buying a ribbon/flower and wearing it, I think it's truly unacceptable punishing people for wearing a small badge. Especially disrupting their learning right before their GCSEs.

They were isolated for 6 hours, basically, a whole school day wasted.

The School's statement:

The Grange School, an all through 3-16 school, actively supports many charities. Primary pupils have sold daffodils for the Marie Curie Appeal last week and the secondary students have their Head Boy & Head Girl nominated charity which this year is The Teenage Cancer Trust.

Over the past few years we have supported various charities including MND Association, Ronald McDonald House in Alder Hey and The Teenage Cancer Trust. Currently our total stands at just over £800 for this year’s nominated charity, The Teenage Cancer Trust. Next Thursday a coffee morning is organised to raise further funds.

There are many different charities each with their own distinctive badge, emblem or bracelet. These can be a distraction if worn on school uniform. The school allows students to display badges on coats and bags but not on school blazers. Today a number of students decided that they would wear charity badges on their school blazers as a protest against a few students being asked to remove badges earlier in the week. If this has caused any offence to any individual or charity, then we unreservedly apologise.

This issue today was not raised for discussion through our normal channels which include school council and Parent Forum but instead was aired through social media. Nevertheless, we are now seeking the views of students and parents but in the meantime the most important thing about school is learning and sadly this issue today became a distraction for a small number of our secondary students. We trust that now students have had chance to air their views, they will in future put them through the appropriate channels in school.

What are your guys thoughts?

[Kardan]

I'm going to agree with the school on this one.

I mean, at the moment it might not be an issue, having 70 kids wearing something on their blazer to support a charity. But then what happens when students start wearing another badge/ribbon, and then another - the situation can quickly escalate.

And the fact that they can wear them on coats and bags means it shouldn't even really be an issue. Also, the fact that this situation has gone from presumably a few pupils to over 60/70 makes me believe that the majority of the students are just doing it to rebel rather than support the charity in the first place.

Plus, if students really believe it is going to impact their GCSEs, why not simply move the ribbon/badge from their blazer to their coat? The students are just as likely to blame for any dip in performance as the school. Uniform is uniform.

[Prosiary]

I'm going to agree with the school on this one.

I mean, at the moment it might not be an issue, having 70 kids wearing something on their blazer to support a charity. But then what happens when students start wearing another badge/ribbon, and then another - the situation can quickly escalate.

And the fact that they can wear them on coats and bags means it shouldn't even really be an issue. Also, the fact that this situation has gone from presumably a few pupils to over 60/70 makes me believe that the majority of the students are just doing it to rebel rather than support the charity in the first place.

Plus, if students really believe it is going to impact their GCSEs, why not simply move the ribbon/badge from their blazer to their coat? The students are just as likely to blame for any dip in performance as the school. Uniform is uniform.

I thought that at first, but all this happened because they made a few people remove the badge I think, if they didn't do that as it doesn't state that it's not allowed:



If they just let the people wear it in the first place, they wouldn't have this situation.

[Kardan]

I thought that at first, but all this happened because they made a few people remove the badge I think, if they didn't do that as it doesn't state that it's not allowed:



If they just let the people wear it in the first place, they wouldn't have this situation.

Worth noting that the list of items there are items not allowed in school, the ribbons/badges are allowed in school.

And yes, if they allowed it, it wouldn't be an issue.

[Prosiary]

Worth noting that the list of items there are items not allowed in school, the ribbons/badges are allowed in school.

And yes, if they allowed it, it wouldn't be an issue.

Just realised that

Yeah, they should just allow it tbh, stops all the bad press as well. The School wasn't like this when I was there before I went college this year, it was good haha.

[Kardan]

Just realised that

Yeah, they should just allow it tbh, stops all the bad press as well. The School wasn't like this when I was there before I went college this year, it was good haha.

I wouldn't call it bad press, and I don't think they should allow it, because then it shows students can get their own way via protesting rather than the proper ways to deal with these things such as student council etc.

[Prosiary]

I wouldn't call it bad press, and I don't think they should allow it, because then it shows students can get their own way via protesting rather than the proper ways to deal with these things such as student council etc.

Hmm, it's bad press in my opinion, as they're getting a bad reputation from all the news coverage. That could be an issue aswell.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, the school thinks it's a distraction but all other schools in the area are allowed them, Will poppies be banned? Red noses? Don't think so, it's just stupid banning one badge but people wear red noses etc which are bigger, therefore could be called a distraction.

[lemons]

stupid that they weren't allowed to wear it but i agree the majority were probably just in on it to be cool rebel kids

calling the local newspaper from school isolation lmfao how ridiculous what is this waterloo road

[Kardan]

Hmm, it's bad press in my opinion, as they're getting a bad reputation from all the news coverage. That could be an issue aswell.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, the school thinks it's a distraction but all other schools in the area are allowed them, Will poppies be banned? Red noses? Don't think so, it's just stupid banning one badge but people wear red noses etc which are bigger, therefore could be called a distraction.

Different schools have different rules, just because one school does something doesn't mean nearby schools should/do. Poppies are probably a special case, and red noses aren't worn on the uniform.

[MKR&*42]

School is entitled to their own policy, but can I question the benefit of putting SEVENTY children into isolation?

Assuming isolation room is in one building, then the 'isolation' becomes almost redundant as it wouldn't be very hard for at least 2 out of 70 to chat to each other.