Bilton School Closes Over Extremist Abuse Threats to Staff

Bilton School in Rugby has closed early for the summer amid escalating extremist abuse and personal threats directed at staff following an incident involving a 12-year-old pupil, Courtney Wright, who was removed from a culture celebration event for wearing a Union flag dress. The school expressed deep regret and issued an unreserved apology to the pupil, her family, and the wider community, emphasizing their commitment to learning from the incident and ensuring all students feel supported in expressing pride in their heritage. The removal of Courtney from the event sparked significant public backlash, including online abuse and threats, leading the school's leadership to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of students and staff in deciding to close. The school and Stowe Valley Multi-Academy Trust have been working with multi-agency partners to address the situation, highlighting the serious nature of the threats. Courtney's father voiced his dismay over his daughter being punished for celebrating her British identity, which has fueled the controversy surrounding the politicization of the Union Jack dress. The closure reflects the broader tensions in the community related to cultural expression and identity, as well as the challenges schools face in handling such sensitive issues.