A row has erupted at Matravers School after the school told a pupil to remove Poppy Appeal and Help for Heroes wristbands.
The pupil’s parent – an ex- soldier of 24 years who served in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Iraq – wrote to White Horse News accusing the school of hypocrisy.
“I think the hypocrisy of Matravers School beggars belief sometimes,” the parent said. “I read your article this week and can’t believe that they try to promote close links with the military and start a CCF [combined cadet force] contingent when pupils are told to remove the Help For Heroes and Poppy Appeal wrist bands.
“It’s a disgrace especially when police forces and the military allow them to be worn when in uniform.
“I have a child who attends the school and has been told by senior members of staff to remove his Help for Heroes and Poppy Appeal wristbands.
“The uniform policy can be seen on their websites and there is no mention of wristbands. When police forces and the military are allowed to wear them, I fail to see how a school who actively try to promote strong links with the military, deny pupils from showing their support for charities whose purpose is to support servicemen, ex-servicemen and their families.
“As a ex-soldier of 24 years having served in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Iraq and have been involved with many injured servicemen, I find the denial of allowing students to show their support for those charities whilst portraying that they have strong military links disgusting.”
In response Matravers School said their uniform policy is clear and they expect all students to conform to this policy. And they say no parent has raised a concern with the school about this matter.
They have issued a statement which is printed below.
“Matravers School has firmly embedded our extensive Military links and ethos over the last two years, enabling it to flourish. We define Military ethos based on the Department for Education definitions, focusing on the “character” development of pupils.
Military ethos delivers a range of activities aimed at helping pupils do well in school and beyond, based around an ‘A, B, C, D building blocks of character’ model:
• A: altruism – including helping others through volunteering, understanding how their behaviour affects others, helping out and home and in the classroom
• B: bounce back – learning from your mistakes, developing grit and determination, overcoming failure and trying again
• C: comfort zone busting – trying out new activities in unfamiliar environments, collaborating with pupils from other schools, working with new people
• D: destination – establishing high aspirations and doing well at school, setting goals and understanding how to get there, developing links with employers, achieving qualifications and skills beyond the classroom
This has been embedded in a number of areas through our military links:
• The emergence of a very successful CVQO programme which blends practical learning with a military ethos and approach and has made a substantial difference to many of our pupils, including being asked to visit and talk to MPs at the House of Commons in July 2014;
• Our continued work with the local Warminster Garrison;
• Visits by the Royal Marines to deliver Team-Building Days and Command Tasks
• Royal Navy visit to deliver a “Science Day”, including landing of Lynx helicopter on-site;
• Visit by bomb disposal unit from Warminster to support our “Coding-Club”;
• Use of military personnel during our “mock-interview” processes for pupils;
• Many visits to the Warminster base to tour and use their facilities;
• Visits of high-ranking Officers to the school to talk and inspire pupils;
• Establishing our own on-site Combined Cadet Force;
• Involvement of the Royal British Legion in our “Cut-back-and-sides” Warminster Garrison Hairdressing Day.
Our superb work to support charities raised over £5,000 last year as a school community. Our charities are chosen through democratic means by individual Year Groups and reflect the areas of interest of different Year Groups.
Our Uniform Policy is clear in what we allow and what we don’t allow. We expect all students to conform to this policy. We are looking forward to further strengthening this policy next academic year with our new Uniform. No parent has raised a concern with the school about this matter.”
