Courtney’s dad, Stuart, said his daughter “should not be made to feel ashamed about being British – and she certainly shouldn’t be punished for it”. Do you agree?
Courtney Wright at home in Coventry. A 12-year-old girl was left devastated after being put into is (Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
Courtney Wright, 12, had been planning to deliver a speech during a culture day at her school wearing a Union Flag dress reminiscent of that worn by Geri Halliwell in the Spice Girls in the mid-90s.
But her hopes of emulating Girl Power pioneer were scuppered when her school stopped her from taking to the podium – and even put her in isolation.
The youngster, a pupil of Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, said some teachers even praised her for “looking like Ginger Spice” before she was later told her dress was not appropriate.
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She said: “I went to school in this dress on Friday and they told me I had to change and it wasn’t appropriate and only other cultures were allowed to celebrate.
“I think all cultures should be allowed to celebrate their culture, including British culture. I felt really embarrassed, I was made to sit in reception all day.”
Her furious dad, Stuart Field, 47, said: “Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn’t understand what she’d done wrong.
“She should not be made to feel ashamed about being British — and she certainly shouldn’t be punished for it.”
Bilton School’s leadership has since apologised for the incident.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Stowe Valley Trust said: “At Bilton School, we are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included.
“On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community.
“We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies.
“We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better.
“We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage.
“As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect, and understanding for all.”
