Girl, 8, sent home by school in uniform row over non-compliant boots

Susanna Siddell
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:25:54 +0000

An eight-year-old girl has been sent home from her primary school after teachers decided her boots violated uniform policy.

Amaya Davies, who was turned away from St Paul's Church of England Primary in Salford, was told to wear trainers despite her family claiming they had secured special permission for her footwear.

The strict approach in the Greater Manchester school, which comes after a GB News investigation exposed hundreds of schools had adopted a more relaxed approach to uniforms, sparked fury from the pupil's father.

Duaine Davies, 40, said he is challenging the decision after his daughter was left "heartbroken" over the dispute.

"Footwear does not affect education," Mr Duaine told the BBC, opening up about how his daughter is undergoing an assessment for autism.

Her father said she has found attending school difficult because of bullying and claimed the change of footwear would distress his daughter.

"To me she should be classed as having a disability and they're not listening to this child's needs," he argued.

He added: "They have no understanding. All she needs from the school is to be able to wear shoes that she's comfortable in."

Mr Duaine added that the family had been offered a voucher for new shoes – but he declared it was about discomfort and anxiety, rather than price tags.

Ahead of the fiasco, Amaya's mother is said to have contacted the school beforehand to arrange for her daughter to continue wearing the boots.

The family received confirmation that this would be acceptable.

However, three staff members inspected pupils at the school gates, "lining them up like the army" on both Monday and Tuesday mornings, when Amaya was turned away on both occasions.

LATEST FROM BRITAIN'S SCHOOLS:

England’s school uniforms under threat as one in eight ditch ties for tracksuits and hoodies - parents left fearful over girls' safety

Schoolchildren told to wear tracksuits rather than uniform in new 'inclusivity' drive

‘Uniforms create sameness!’ Commentator weighs in on ‘restrictive’ school dress after GB News audit

Amaya was sent to school wearing black leather boots with a fur trim along the borders, but was left in tears for two days after being sent home.

The school has since told the family that Amaya may return if she wears trainers instead of her boots.

Mr Duaine said uniform rules had never been an issue at St Paul's until the recent changes, explaining that he, his siblings, mother and eldest child all attended the school.

The school's website has continued to list its policy of only allowing "sensible black shoes or black trainers".

This policy was approved by the trust's education committee in July 2025 and is next due for review in July 2028.

But Mr Duaine has cried out for an earlier change, now planning to organise a demonstration with other parents outside the school.

He hopes the protest will "get the school to listen".

GB News has approached St Paul's Primary School and Vantage Academies Trust for comment.