By VANESSA VALENZUELA
THE Department of Education is “following up” complaints about Victoria University Secondary College after students were sent home for failing to wear the correct uniform last week.
VUSC students in St Albans were sent home on their first day back at school as the college clamped down on its new uniform policy.
Concerned parents have slammed the Brimbank secondary school for sending their children home without notifying them after new uniform policies came into place this year.
One concerned parent of a VUSC student, who did not want to be named, said her children were “refused education” and “humiliated in front of other students” because they arrived at school without their blazers.
She said she had not been told by the school that they would send her children home if they did not wear the school blazer and she had not been contacted by the school when they were sent home.
“I was not told my children would be or were being sent home by the school yesterday or today. My children called to tell me they had been told to leave the school,” she told Star last Thursday.
She claimed more than 100 year 11 and 12 students were sent home last Wednesday for failing to wear the new school uniform.
A Department of Education spokesperson said they were looking into complaints from concerned parents.
“Following a number of complaints from parents, the Department contacted Victoria University Secondary College,” the spokesperson said.
“The Department is following up with the school to ensure their practices are consistent with the appropriate policies and guidelines related to student uniform and sending students home.”
VUSC School Principal Genevieve Simson said she could not confirm how many students had been sent home for wearing the wrong uniform but stated parents had been given ample notice about the change to the new school uniform.
“The school has the legal right to decide on the uniform. It (the blazer) is the same as any other part of the uniform,” Ms Simson said.
She said the school uniform committee, which is made up of parents and teachers, decided that all students would be required to wear the new school uniform by 2013.
“We have reminded people a lot through the website, newsletters and have directly posted letters to them as well,” she said.
“That was all throughout last year and specifically eight different times during term four.”
The parent added she previously raised concerns with the school about the introduction of the compulsory blazer, but did not receive a reply.
“Trying to keep teenagers at school is hard enough for parents at the best of times but refusing them entry into a public school because of a blazer is unacceptable,” she said.
