Angry parents say school is 'outing' children with 'embarrassing' rule change

A school has been accused of 'outing' children as having additional needs following a rule change. Pupils at Werneth School in Stockport have been told they must carry lanyards revealing learning disabilities at all times.

This has led to some children feeling 'embarrassed,' one concerned mum has said. Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have to wear or carry sunflower lanyards this week and show them to staff when asked.

Messages from the school say the pass can be worn or concealed and that breaching the policy 'based on defiance' may result in disciplinary action. The comprehensive school has pupils aged 11 to 16 and is part of the Education Learning Trust (ELT).

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A spokesperson for the ELT told Manchester Evening News: "We are currently working alongside the school to fully investigate the issues raised by the parents. This will include a review of current practices used by the school to ensure they align with the ELT ethos that promotes an environment where all pupils feel safe and valued."

Werneth School was contacted for comment. Jennie Fabri says her son, Finlay, was targeted by other children after being made to wear the lanyard.

She alleged that the school has stopped access to a quiet room for neurodivergent children and taken away her son's pass to leave early. Ms Fabri has only found out about the policy when he "burst through the door having a meltdown" due to questions about his disability from other children.

She has since kept the 12-year-old away from the school. The mum said: "Some of the children didn't know he was autistic, loads of kids were asking him questions and saying things about him. Finlay retaliated to one boy but he [Finlay] got hit. It makes me really upset because it's my child and all my life I have protected him, but somewhere he should be safe they forced him to comply with something he can't do.

"He didn't ask to be born with autism, to force him to wear a lanyard and take away the safe room and his pass, it's disgusting."

Leigh Jones has a 12-year-old neurodivergent daughter who attends the school and that the youngster "feels embarrassed that she has to produce this lanyard" showing she has a disability. Ms Jones, from the Brinnington SEND group, added that she has been inundated with messages over the past few days from concerned parents.

She said: "They want a child wearing a sunflower lanyard to show people they have a hidden disability. Last night from 3.45pm to 10pm the number of messages I got was shocking, there are families who have not sent their kids to school because of it."

The mum of a neurodiverse 15-year-old girl has also spoken out. Debbie said: "The lanyard itself is great away from the school, the idea of it is good, but the point is that it was made to be worn voluntarily.

"But we're being told if they don't wear it there will be disciplinary action. She was upset because she was humiliated in front of the whole school when she was refused in [for not having her sunflower lanyard].

"It makes me feel quite upset that these kids are being outed [for having a disability], no one would want to have to carry their medical records around their neck."

Stockport cllr Christine Carrigan said she was "appalled that children are being forced to identify themselves in this way." "As the mum of a child living with ADHD, I am of course very supportive of any inclusion and tolerance initiatives, as the head teacher seems to be suggesting is the motivation for this approach," she said.

Cllr Carrigan added: "But this must always be the individual's choice and not a societal imposition. We absolutely should not be suspending children for their refusal to comply with this.

"I would urge the school to take a step back and work with parents, children and the council's excellent education team to find a way forward."

Werneth School's most recent Ofsted report, published in January 2024, rated the school as 'inadequate' after inspectors raised concerns about absence levels and behaviour.

The report stated that some pupils with SEND 'do not receive the support that they need to access the curriculum' and that some students 'continue to have their learning disrupted by the poor behaviour of others' at the school.

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