School REFUSES to let self-conscious 13-year-old girl wear a hoodie and cap to cover her hair loss – before backing down after parents and students staged a furious protest outside the gates wearing hats
- Ella Goodwin, 13, felt uncomfortable wearing wig after losing patches of her hair
- Pupil was told she must adhere to uniform policy at Heritage High in Derbyshire
- But school changed its stance after children staged a protest yesterday morning
- Ella has been battling chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis for two years
A school refused to let a self-conscious girl wear a hoodie and cap to cover her hair loss before backing down after parents and students staged a furious protest outside the gates while wearing hats.
Ella Goodwin, 13, felt uncomfortable wearing a wig to school after losing patches of her hair, but was told that she must adhere to the uniform policy at Heritage High in Clowne, Derbyshire.
Children gathered outside the premises yesterday morning and donned hats in support for their fellow pupil, prompting the school to change its stance.
One parent said that some children were not let in, while others were placed in isolation and the police were called.
Ella Goodwin (pictured left, before her hair loss, and right, during), 13, felt uncomfortable wearing a wig to school after losing patches of her hair, but was told that she must adhere to the uniform policy at Heritage High in Clowne, Derbyshire
A message sent by the school’s Year 9 manager reads: ‘I have spoken to Senior staff with regards Ella wearing a hoodie and baseball cap and unfortunately because of school policy around uniform we are unable to authorise her wearing them.
‘We do however have a couple of students in school currently who are wearing wigs.
‘I wondered if Ella would like to meet with her and talk about her experience. If this would make Ella feel better about wearing her wig in school.
‘Let me know if she would like to talk to another student and I will arrange it.’
Ella pictured with her 41-year-old mother Joanne Davies. The family say the support they have received from parents and pupils at the school has been extremely heartening
Ella has been battling Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis – a rare condition that causes abnormal inflammation in and around the bones – for over two years, leaving her next to no immune system, making school extremely challenging.
Ella’s father, Shaun Goodwin, says that his daughter’s loss of hair, which is still a mystery to her doctors, has left her very self-conscious.
He said: ‘She’s a young girl, they want to be curling or straightening her hair at that age – making themselves look good.
The family say the support they have received from parents and pupils at the school has been extremely heartening.
Mr Goodwin said: ‘Seeing all those people out in support of Ella was out of this world, we can’t thank them enough.
‘I don’t think she realised how many friends she had in the community, she was really overwhelmed.
Mr Goodwin has a meeting today, but was informed that the school has reversed its decision and will allow his daughter to wear a cap and hoodie.
A spokesperson for the school said: ‘We are happy to confirm that we have now been able to speak to Ella’s family and have agreed with them that Ella can wear a cap and a hoodie to ensure she feels as comfortable and supported as possible when at school.
‘We will continue to do everything we can to ensure Ella and her family are appropriately supported through this challenging period.’
Children gathered outside the premises yesterday morning and donned hats in support for their fellow pupil, prompting the school to change its stance