Some children at Bideford County Secondary School were sent home

this week because they wore ‘trendy’ shoes. In the opinion of the school staff the shoes are dangerous and a hazard to the children’s health.

But many of the children concerned claimed that teachers are not in touch with today’s fashions. Said one pupil “We are old enough to make up our own minds and these shoes are what young people are wearing today.” Other pupils at the school agreed their teachers may be right – but they said they were determined to go on wearing the shoes to keep in step with fashion.

To whom do these shoes belong?

School staff have ruled that soles over an inch thick are not acceptable and a number of gym shoes have been made available for children not conforming, to wear.

Deputy head Mr George Hookway said the staff were constantly being made aware that some modern trendy shoes not only constituted a danger because of the many stairs in the school, but threatened the posture and future well being of the girls. Second mistress Miss E Rees blamed what she saw as the pressure of fashion for some girls wearing unsuitable shoes to school.

“There are about 200 older pupils and most of them wear platforms to school” said Philip Braund of Westcombe, Bideford, one of many boys to wear platform shoes. Bridget Hearn who lives in Lime Grove, commented “We like to be fashionable.” Sandra Stevens of Woolsery and Sarah Toon of Bideford felt that teachers were ‘a bit of touch with fashions.’ “We don’t complain about old people – why should they complain about what we wear?” was the reaction of Derek Smith, of East-the-Water. It was not just a question of the shoes. The style of shoes went together with baggy trousers and one looked ridiculous without the other, he said.

‘Serious Action’ hint by school head

A warning was given by the headmaster of Bideford School, Mr John Dare, that the possibility of ‘more serious action’ will be considered against pupils refusing to comply with the requirement to wear suitable shoes to school.

“A child may be required to remain away from school until such time as he or she is prepared to wear suitable footwear” he said.

Gazette article dated March 1975