Pupil banned from taking GCSE exam after teachers deemed her school trousers ‘too tight’

A SCHOOLGIRL was forced to miss her GCSE exam because teachers said her 'tailored' trousers were too TIGHT.

Chloe Barton, from Nottingham, was put into isolation for two days at Top Valley Academy - even though she'd been wearing the same trousers since November.

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Mum Emma Johnson, 35, is furious the school didn't let Chloe, 15, sit her Spanish writing exam due to take place yesterday.

The beauty therapist is now keeping Chloe off school after saying they are 'jeopardising her future'.

She said: "I'm so annoyed and I feel I've got to make a point."

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Emma added: "Chloe has the same trousers as her sister Lucy and I got them from George in Asda.

"The girls are different shapes but they're tailored trousers."

The mum-of-six said a general letter was sent out to all parents in December which explained children would be put in isolation if their trousers weren't right.

Girls are supposed to wear 'smart, plain black formal trousers [...] not of a stretch material'.

The school's website adds that 'leggings or legging style trousers are not acceptable'.

Earlier this month we reported how the school was threatening to exclude 30 girls for wearing “too tight” trousers. 

Mums and dads say teachers told pupils the trousers looked too scruffy when they returned after the Christmas break on Tuesday.

Emma added: "I thought her trousers were fine and that there wasn't a problem.

"They are suitable trousers."

The mum rang the school on Monday after finding out Chloe was in isolation and demanded a call back from the headteacher, which she claims she never received.

Emma said: "I had to go into the school because they didn't return my call.

"I told them to get Lucy out of class too and compare the trousers.

"Two teachers looked at Chloe's trousers and said they were fine, but she was still put in isolation.

"She's an A* student and in all the top sets - she was really prepared for the exam yesterday."

Chloe returned to school on Tuesday in the same trousers, only to be put in isolation again.

The devastated pupil was geared up to sit her exam, after already rescheduling it once due to illness.

Chloe said: "I told my isolation teacher I had my Spanish writing exam but they wouldn't let me go.

"I'd revised so hard for it, I'm really irritated about it all.

"It's difficult to study Spanish, it's a completely different language and now I need to reschedule the exam again.

"I don't think my trousers are too tight at all."

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Mum Emma is worried Chloe has been discriminated against because of her height and build.

Emma said: "Chloe is nearly six foot, she's not a small girl.

"I got all the children's trousers from the same place but there's only an issue with Chloe.

"She's not a small girl but she's sporty and muscly.

"I'm just worried about the impact missing this exam is going to have on her future."
Furious parents have strongly supported Chloe Barton, 15, and mum Emma after teachers said her trousers were 'too tight'.

Kelly Cawkwell posted: "How tight your clothes are doesn't affect learning or behaviour.

"If the school had such an issue they should have let her continue with the exam and then taken it up with her parents after."

Anthony James posted on Facebook: "Another headteacher on a power trip.

"They're looking at blaming the children's clothing rather than looking at the capabilities and teaching styles of their staff, it's an absolute joke.

"It's a local comprehensive, not Eton."

And Carmen Gunn added: "To be honest I think the school is going over the top.

"How does the school have the best interest of the children to make them miss an exam for sake of some trousers?"

Sun Online has contacted Top Valley Academy for comment.

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