Dozens of Pupils Isolated for Wearing Union Jack in West Midlands, Warwickshire Schools

At Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy in Oldbury, West Midlands, dozens of pupils were sent into isolation and some suspended for wearing Union Jack clothing on a school culture day intended to celebrate heritage. While students were invited to wear outfits reflecting their backgrounds, pupils wearing British flags, such as Isobelle Wehrle and Scarlett Priest, faced punishment, whereas others wearing flags from countries like Jamaica and Spain were reportedly not penalized. Isobelle Wehrle received a five-day suspension after questioning the school's policy, with her mother describing the experience as making British culture feel 'dirty.' The school stated that Union Jack attire was allowed but emphasized having clear non-uniform guidelines and denied suspending students for their outfit choices on the day. This incident follows a similar controversy at Bilton School in Warwickshire, where a pupil was banned from wearing a Union Jack dress on diversity day, highlighting ongoing tensions around expressions of British identity in schools. Parents and commentators have condemned the school's actions as unfair and indicative of an anti-British bias.