The two girls wanted to show solidarity with protesting farmers
A mother has been left furious after her daughters were kicked out of school for wearing wellies to show solidarity with
Alice Hatt says she was left “fuming” and has vowed to take further action after her daughters, aged 12 and 13, were driven by a teacher to a farm that was not theirs and left unsupervised for two hours.
Ms Hatt who owns an 800-acre beef and sheep farm in Cornwall hopes to one day pass the farm onto her daughters and had wanted to join in with against the removal of but was unable to make it.
But daughters Kimberly, 12, and Pippa, 13 wanted to show solidarity with the thousands who made their way to the and chose to wear wellies as many children did across the country.
Ms Hatt told : “The girls wanted to do it and I was very proud of them that they stood up for what they believe in and they didn’t back down.
Don’t miss…
Thousands took to London this week to protest against the tax
“However, after about an hour and a half I got a phone call from the school saying I needed to bring shoes in for the girls. I told them we were out TB testing so couldn’t get there until the end of the day.
“I asked if they could just wear wellies for one day to support farmers, but they said ‘no, if they’re not going to change their shoes, they’re suspended’. So they put my two girls in a car with a teacher who drove them to a farm we farm but don’t live at.
“They didn’t even take them to the farmyard, they drove them halfway down the lane and left them there for two hours unsupervised. It’s literally just a farm with animals and slurry pits – all the dangers that a farm has.”
Ms Hatt says that after two hours, a member of staff from the school picked the girls up and drove them home to the family farm.
She alleges that the girls had not been given lunch before being removed from school and had nothing to eat until arriving home at around 3pm.
Don’t miss…
It is alleged that the girls were suspended and taken to a deserted farm by a teacher for two hours
She added: “Surely you have no right to be driving my children anywhere and leaving them unsupervised.”
The irony of the girls being unable to protest just a year was not lost on the Hatt family.
Ms Hatt added: “The school didn’t like it, even though we had to support them when the teachers were protesting. My kids had five days off school last year because they were all up London protesting their pay. I find it very hypocritical to be honest with you.”
Another mum took to Facebook to complain: “Don’t use the excuse of school policy as they can dress up for Children in Need, Halloween and any other charity or time that suits. I’m pretty sure that this is one of the biggest things in the country that needs to be supported now and for the future, and people need to be educated about the effects of farming and, God forbid, not having farmers.”
The Express.co.uk has contacted Sir James Smith’s School and the Westcountry Schools Trust for comment.