School bans tribute to hero troops wristband
A PUPIL at a school near the home of the Royal Marines has been banned from wearing a Help for Heroes wristband.
Sarah-Jane Chalk, 15, wore the band to show her support for the work of British troops overseas, including a member of her own family. But staff at Exmouth Community College in Devon ordered her to remove it on health and safety grounds.
They claimed it could be a danger to other pupils.
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The college is less than three miles from the Marines’ training centre in the village of Lympstone.
Sarah-Jane was warned about the band on Tuesday and when she was spotted wearing it a second time she was sent into a temporary exclusion room for the day.
Her furious mother Susan, 42, said: “I’m disgusted because by wearing the wristband she is supporting our troops.
“I phoned the school asking for their views and was told wristbands were a health and safety risk because they are classed as bracelets. The school allows children to wear poppies in November and pink clothing at an event in aid of Cancer Research so why not wristbands?
“They should teach children to support our troops who are out there fighting for freedom.” Susan, who has a relative and a number of friends serving with the Royal Marines, added: “I can understand the need for jewellery and bracelets to be removed but these are something synonymous with our town. Exmouth is home to the Royal Marines.
“If the college says they breach health and safety, then surely ties do too because they could strangle you. It is Sarah-Jane’s final year and she missed out on important lessons.”
Principal Tony Alexander said the school supported the Help for Heroes campaign and would be holding a charity event later this term. “Wristbands are not allowed for the simple reason they contravene our uniform policy.”
