Warwickshire School Sends Home Girl Wearing Union Jack Dress, Sparks National Backlash

Courtney Wright, a 12-year-old student at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, was sent home and isolated for wearing a Union Jack dress inspired by the Spice Girls during the school's Diversity Day, where she had planned to celebrate British culture. The school deemed her attire 'unacceptable,' offering her a secondhand uniform instead, which she refused, leading to her father being called to pick her up. The incident sparked widespread backlash, including criticism from public figures and local leaders, and prompted apologies from the school, which later encouraged students to proudly represent their heritage and invited Courtney to participate in a charity event wearing the dress. Downing Street, through Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson, expressed support for Courtney and emphasized that being British is something to be celebrated. The controversy highlighted tensions about cultural expression and inclusivity during school events, with Courtney's father and supporters arguing that the school politicized a non-political display of national pride. The school has since stated it is learning from the experience and aims to promote understanding and appreciation of different backgrounds while supporting students' cultural identities.