"Surely this has to be some form of joke"

A dad has spoken out against his daughter's school after she was threatened with suspension for breaking an "excessive" school rule.

Darren Worthington, from Thornton, Lancashire, slammed Millfield High School after he was told his daughter had earned her first "strike" for having a broken ruler in school. The school informed him of the "strike" via a text message, which also described the school's policy on students' equipment- specifically that they will be punished using a "three-strike" rule for not having the correct basic stationery at school.

The text said that if the rule is broken twice in a week, then the guilty student would be given a 90-minute detention. If it is broken three times in a week, they will be given a fixed term exclusion.

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Darren's daughter was refused a replacement ruler after her teacher discovered hers was broken, even though "there was a box of spares on the table" which, he said, she "was not allowed to use". The dad-of-four called the school's policy a "joke" and was bewildered about how such a policy would help better the school children.

He said: "Surely this has to be some form of joke. God forbid your child loses a pen, breaks a pencil or snaps a ruler.

"Possible exclusion- How is this helping the children to learn? Unbelievable.

"I think a fixed-term exclusion is a bit excessive. My daughter's ruler had broken, there was a box of spares on the table, which she was not allowed to use.

"The school is full of stationery, everyone brings their stationery in themselves. I’m sure it’s not got to the point where all of the children forget their pencil cases every morning.

"I just think the punishment of twice or three times in a week is excessive for what it is. Or it will cause kids to take off other kids as they don’t want to get the punishment. Then what?

"People forget things, it’s normal, I’m sure you wouldn’t punish your kids if they forgot something twice in a week.

"I understand that they are trying to teach the children responsibilities, however the punishment of a fixed-term exclusion just seems excessive. And I can't see how that would benefit the children. I'd even say the 90 minute detention is too long.

"There are stories on the post where the child has been punished by having personal items confiscated as punishment for bringing the correct equipment, but in their bag rather than the case. I put the post out to see what others thought and majority agree it's over the top."

Darren, who took to social media to voice his frustrations, recieved a mix of support and criticism. Some agreed that the policy was "extreme", but other agreed with the school's rhetoric that the rule teaches "discipline".

One commenter wrote: "There is a difference between teaching responsibility and self-reliance and being completely absurd! They fight enough to get some kids into school and to stay in school and you have things like this that affects their attendance. Over a bloody ruler, pen and pencils."

Another said: "What about teaching kindness, sharing and compassion? Has another student got a spare they're willing to share?"

Others, who agreed with the school, were less supportive. With one saying: "Nowt wrong with a bit of discipline. It’s what today's kids are missing in this namby pamby world."

Another wrote: "Surely it's not that hard to remember to bring in a pen pencil and a ruler! They are giving you a warning - not exclusion straight away!"

The headteacher, Nicola Regan, of Millfield High School defended their policy, saying: "It's important that students arrive at school with the basic equipment they need for a day of learning.

"This also helps to prepare them for the responsibilities of life after school, and ensures that lessons are not disrupted as staff spend time providing equipment for a small number of students who have forgotten theirs. When students join our school, their parents or carers sign a home-school agreement in which they agree to always send their child to school with the equipment they need. "As students arriving unequipped has become more of an issue lately we have sent a letter to parents about this before half term, and the action we would take if students continue to arrive without basic equipment for learning. "We also offered to buy equipment for any child whose family may struggle financially. As this is the first week after parents received the letter we have provided a pencil case with equipment to a very small number of students who came without theirs, and also contacted their parents.

"We are also in the process of arranging to open a stationery shop at break times, so students can buy spare equipment, to ensure they are ready and fully prepared for the next school day."