A school has apologised after sending home a 12-year-old student who wore a Union Jack dress to a diversity-themed lesson. Courtney Wright, a Year 7 student at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, chose to wear the Union Jack outfit, reminiscent of the iconic Spice Girls dress, after pupils were encouraged to dress in “traditional cultural dress” to celebrate the “rich diversity of our community.” Despite her enthusiasm and impressive academic record, Courtney was removed from class on Friday and made to wait in reception until her father, 47-year-old Stuart Field, picked her up.

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Mr Field told MailOnline: “It's ironic they were having a cultural diversity day but then decided to single out a group of people. Others were allowed in burkas, niqabs or traditional Nigerian clothing. Somebody at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intent. She wanted to celebrate being British, she couldn't understand what was wrong with that.”

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The school had informed parents that students could join a “variety of activities, designed to promote inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds, traditions and heritages,” and encouraged them to wear clothes reflecting their nationality or heritage. Mr Field said other pupils with St George's and Welsh flags were also sent away, while others in burkas were not challenged. He explained that Courtney had even prepared a speech about British history and traditions, including the Royal Family, tea, kings, queens, castles, fish and chips, and Shakespeare.

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A spokesperson for the Stowe Valley Trust said: “At Bilton School, we are proud of the diversity of our students and the rich heritage they bring to our community. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included.

"On Friday 11th July, an incident occurred during our Culture Celebration Day that caused considerable upset to one of our pupils, her family, and members of the wider community. We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies.

"We have since spoken directly with the pupil and her family to listen to their concerns and reflect on how this could have been handled better. We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage.

"As a school, we are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect, and understanding for all.”

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