Latest news with #SpiceGirls-style

Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Damaging and divisive': School girl banned for wearing Union Jack dress on Culture Day
Sky News host Chris Kenny reacts to a 12-year-old British school girl being sent home on 'Diversity Day' for wearing a Spice Girls-style British flag outfit. 'A British girl sent home from diversity day because she was diverse enough to be British,' Mr Kenny said. 'To the woke and the politically correct, diversity doesn't mean diversity, it's just another way to impose their will on others, force everyone to adopt their idiotic identity politics. 'And it's a very sad, damaging and divisive trend.'


Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Parents demand apology after girl, 12, put in isolation for wearing Union Jack dress
Courtney Wright, 12, wore a Spice Girls-esque dress and wrote a piece about history and traditions as part of the diversity day celebrations at Bilton School in Rugby last Friday Parents at a school where a girl was turned away from a diversity day celebration for wearing a union flag dress are outraged over her treatment and have called on the headmistress to apologise publicly. Straight A student Courtney Wright, 12, arrived at Bilton School in Rugby excited to show pals her Spice Girls-style dress, which features a union flag made out of red and blue sequins. However, on arrival, she was isolated away from the rest of her class, removed from her lesson and forced to wait at the school reception until her fuming dad could pick her up after work. The youngster had also spent days preparing a speech about history and traditions, which she was barred from giving. Now, parents of the girl's schoolmates have spoken out, branding the episode "disgusting", while others noted the school had only specified that football strips would not be allowed. "What kind of message does this send out to the local community?" one father asked. "Cancelling a child because she's proud of her British heritage is outrageous. It's the head mistress who needs cancelling and who needs to stop hiding behind the school trust and make a public apology." One dad, 44, whose 12-year-old daughter is in the same year as Courtney, told the MailOnline: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it on social media. It's disgusting if you think this was supposed to be about celebrating diversity. My daughter wore a tie made of the family tartan because we are Scottish and nothing was said about that. "It's a medium multi-ethnic school and there were other pupils who wore traditional Asian dress and headwear which was acceptable, so why not allow a union flag dress?" The school's Trust has since apologised for the incident - but some say it's too little too late. One mum said that the majority of parents are backing Courtney's dad in the row, adding that her daughter had heard the 12-year-old was removed because the school celebrates British culture on a daily basis. In a statement yesterday, it appeared as though the Prime Minister is backing Courtney and her dad too. A spokesperson for Number 10 said: 'I think the school has put out a statement on this so I'm not going to comment further, but the Prime Minister has always been clear that being British is something to be celebrated.' Dad Stuart said the school's actions went against its message and other pupils with St George's flags and Welsh flags were also turned away from the school gates. He said: "Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. It's the school who have made it political and it went against everything the event was being held for. She chose the dress and wrote the piece off her own back. "They day was to celebrate everyone's cultures and Courtney chose this Union Flag dress so she could celebrate hers. She also wrote this speech to go with it and was very proud of what she'd done. The next thing I get a call at work at around 9am to say she's not allowed in school dressed like that and that it was unacceptable. "I wasn't able to get away from work until about midday. They made her sit in reception all morning in front of the receptionists and kept her in isolation. She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. And she shouldn't be punished for celebrating being British - nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it. "Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political. It's about being British, the Spice Girls and even the freedom at being able to wear a dress. This is just what being British means to her."


Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Keir Starmer responds after schoolgirl put in school isolation over Union Flag dress
A schoolgirl was thrown into isolation after turning up to school in a Union Flag dress. A schoolgirl who was put into isolation and pulled from lessons after wearing a Union Flag dress to mark her British heritage on school culture day has been backed by the Prime Minister. Courtney Wright, 12, a straight-A student, turned up to class in a Spice Girls-style dress and wrote a piece about British history and traditions to mark the occasions. However, teachers branded her outfit "unacceptable" and she was thrown out of lessons at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, reports the Mirror. She was then forced to sit in reception until her dad could collect her. Furious dad, Stuart Field, 47, said he was shocked when he found his daughter had been segregated from her friends due to her choice of attire. In a permission letter sent to parents, it said the day was "designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds, traditions and heritages". The decision to punish her caused fury and PM Keir Starmer's spokesperson appeared to side with the schoolgirl and her family. They said: 'I think the school has put out a statement on this so I'm not going to comment further, but the Prime Minister has always been clear that being British is something to be celebrated.' Courtney's dad Stuart hit out at the school's hypocrisy and claimed other pupils with St George's flags and Welsh flags were also turned away from the school gates. He said: "Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't understand what she'd done wrong. It's the school who have made it political and it went against everything the event was being held for. She chose the dress and wrote the piece off her own back. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "They day was to celebrate everyone's cultures and Courtney chose this Union Flag dress so she could celebrate hers. She also wrote this speech to go with it and was very proud of what she'd done. The next thing I get a call at work at around 9am to say she's not allowed in school dressed like that and that it was unacceptable. "I wasn't able to get away from work until about midday. They made her sit in reception all morning in front of the receptionists and kept her in isolation. She should not be made to feel embarrassed about being British. And she shouldn't be punished for celebrating being British - nobody else I've spoken to can quite get their heads around it. "Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. Courtney didn't do anything to be political. It's about being British, the Spice Girls and even the freedom at being able to wear a dress. This is just what being British means to her." The school has since backtracked and apologised after a weekend of backlash. A spokesman for 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.'