I’m furious after headteacher said my kids were ‘imperfect’ & had dirty uniforms – I can’t afford to use washing machine

PARENTS have hit out at a headteacher after she said some kids were “imperfect” and had dirty uniforms.

Joanne Lowe, the headteacher of The Kingsway School in Cheadle, Stockport, described some students as “not so perfect”, adding they did not have clean uniforms.

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In the online post, she talks about the “strive for perfection” and how the school she is in charge of has “some students who we feel pretty much fit in the description of perfect,” adding, “they are always in school on time, immaculately dressed” and “fit in perfectly with the standards we expect of them”.

Then Ms Lowe turned her attention to those pupils who were “not so perfect”.

“Sometimes, these imperfect students arrive at school having overcome different challenges in the home, a lack of clean uniform, no clear boundaries at bedtime or reminders to get up and ready, no healthy breakfast to set their day off,” she wrote.

“It is no wonder that these students present themselves to us as not quite ready to learn and fail to meet our standards and expectations from the outset.”

Despite stressing that ‘it’s not about being perfect, but about striving to be the best you can be’, her comments have angered parents at the school, so much so that the online blog – which was dated June 7 – has now been removed from the school website.

One parent whose children attend Kingsway described the head’s comments as ‘horrendous’ and said she is out of touch with the demands on struggling families.

“She’s basically saying that some pupils are imperfect and unclean, parents are disgusted by this,” she said.

“Especially with the way things are at the moment, some families can’t even afford to run their washing machines to clean uniform through the week and she should know this. I’m on a low income and because bills are rising so much, I can’t afford to use my washing machine until Saturday when I can top up my gas and electric.”

Dozens of people have complained about the blog on a private Facebook page for parents of the school.

Many said they were ‘shocked’ by what they had read, with one saying that ‘kids are under enough pressure to be ‘perfect’ as it is in this day and age of social media’, adding ‘I cannot believe a headteacher actually wrote this’.

The parent who alerted the Manchester Evening News to the complaints added: “Nobody in this world has the right to say who’s perfect and imperfect. Who has the right to judge that? They’re always talking about diversity and inclusion at the school but it’s far from it.”

Mrs Lowe’s blog, titled ‘platinum perfection’, spoke of how the ‘perfect’ pupils ‘have no demerits – just plenty of merits for outstanding contribution to lessons and homework’.

“These students often take part in a range of enrichment activities after school,” she said. “Yes, in school – these young people fit in perfectly with the standards we expect of them. They are often from families who support them, care for them and set clear expectations.”

Following the complaints, the blog was removed from the website on Tuesday.

A statement on the school’s Facebook page and Twitter accounts states: “The Headteacher has been advised that her latest blog may have caused some upset to our families. It has therefore been taken down for review and will be republished shortly. Apologies for any upset caused.”