A Year 12 Hunter Valley Grammar School student has accused the new principal of “snuffing out” individuality and expression.
“We aren’t allowed out of uniform days anymore, we aren’t even allowed to dress up for school carnivals,” the student, who did not want to be named, said in an email to the Mercury.
The school confirmed to the Mercury on Thursday it was reviewing its out of uniform days policy, but a final decision had not been reached.
Head of senior school Greg Robertson said there were occupational health and safety issues to be addressed.
“Students wear the wrong shoes and girls try to get away with uncovered shoulders,” he said.
Mr Robertson said the school was looking at alternative ways to raise money without holding an out of uniform day.
He said the school was focused on raising its standard of dress and upholding its perception in the community.
The student claimed the principal, Paul Teys, told an assembly before the final out of uniform day of last year that “We want students dressing conservatively and not trying to make a statement.”
“I think this is wrong and discourages individuality,” the student said.
“Then those who refuse to attend these conformity carnivals face weekend detentions and further consequences.”
The student claimed Mr Teys cared more about student dress than raising money for charity.
Mr Teys said students had
house-coloured shirts to dress in for the carnivals.
“At school carnivals they wear house colours, so they don’t have to wear their regular uniform,” he said.
He said, occasionally, a year group would dress in a theme at a school carnival, but they had to have permission. Mr Teys said there was no weekend detention or consequences for students who did not attend school carnivals.
“It’s an expectation all students attend the carnival as they would on any other day,” he said.
“We haven’t come to a decision on consequences.”