Bilton School in Rugby in Warwickshire said it is closing “in the interests of student and staff safety” following threats.
Bilton School in Rugby in Warwickshire said it is closing “in the interests of student and staff safety” following threats.
A school which pulled a 12-year-old girl out of class over her Union Jack dress has now had to close early for the summer. Bilton School in Rugby in Warwickshire said it is closing “in the interests of student and staff safety” following threats.
Bilton School told parents it was closing earlier than normal for the summer holidays in a letter sent on Thursday, citing “extremist abuse online and via our telephone systems”.
“The nature and tone of this abuse has escalated in recent days, including personal threats to our staff,” the letter continued. Ranjit Samra, CEO of Stowe Valley Multi-Academy Trust and headteacher Jayne Delves said staff had been threatened.
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The letter said: “The nature and tone of this abuse has escalated in recent days including personal threats to staff.”
The letter continued: “While we have been working closely with our multi-agency partners to address the situation, our primary responsibility remains the safety and wellbeing of every child and member of staff.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We understand the disruption this may cause to your families and your child’s education, but the safety of our school community must come first.”
The letter ended by thanking parents and guardians for their understanding and continued support during a “very challenging time”.
Courtney, who said her outfit was inspired by Geri Halliwell’s iconic Spice Girls dress, was stopped at the school gates by a member of staff and ordered to change after picking it out for Culture Celebration Day.
Courtney’s father Stuart Field, 47, said he was ‘gobsmacked’ to learn his daughter had been segregated from her peers due to her choice of attire.
Mr Field, who works in marine restoration, said: “Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn’t understand what she’d done wrong.
“She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. And she shouldn’t be punished for celebrating British culture and history; nobody else I’ve spoken to can quite get their heads around it.”
The father added: “Another with a St Georges flag and another with a Welsh flag were not allowed in either. It was ridiculous. It just seemed anything that was remotely British wasn’t allowed.
“It’s ironic they were having a cultural diversity day but then decided to single out a group of people.”