A mother has hit out at CedarBridge Academy for sending her son home from school because the hem on his trousers was too thin.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, accused the school of operating like a "military camp" and said the "Gestapo-like attitude" went too far.

She said the trousers were the same pair he wore for school last year, when they were acceptable to staff.

However, she said on Tuesday, two teachers discussed the hem and length of the trousers and decided to send him home.

"I don't know what changed over the summer, but these trousers were perfectly acceptable last term," she said.

"I think it was probably the length of the trousers they were talking about, but all they said to my son was that the hem was too thin.

"I don't think the trousers are too long. They sit on his shoes. I wouldn't say they are overly sloppy, they are just a little bit baggy at the bottom, but that's how a lot of students' trousers are."

The mother said she sent her son to school in exactly the same trousers yesterday, when no member of staff criticised them.

She said: "It sounds like it's just down to teachers' opinions to me."

The East End mother is one of a number of mothers who have complained this week that their children were sent home from their initial three-hour orientation classes after failing to meet the strict dress code at CedarBridge.

She said she could understand the school being upset at major abuses of the uniform, such as no tie, wrong trousers and wrong coloured shoes, but she said she had difficulty sympathising when it was minor incidents.

The disgruntled mother said she tried to be very supportive of CedarBridge.

"But the administration makes it very difficult when they run the school like a military camp," she added.

"I can certainly understand the need for discipline, but this Gestapo-like attitude goes too far. It's not an exact science. You will never get the kids to be exact clones of each other.

"If that's the case, the school should give us a list of approved places to make our purchases, including allowed brand names for shoes and bags, and a list of approved seamstresses to make alterations."

But yesterday, principal of Southampton Glebe Primary School Gladstone Thomson said he had a daughter at CedarBridge Academy and fully supported the tough stance on dress at the senior school.

And he said he did not believe parent's complaints over the uniform were worthy of a front page slot in The Royal Gazette.

He said: "I think the principal and the staff are trying to establish a standard. You will always find a small minority who are either very for it or very against it.

"I think it is all very petty. I'm pleased that CedarBridge is taking such a stand. The principal has my full support. If she gives in to one person, she has lost her credibility and then the floodgates would open.

"I hope CedarBridge parents recognise that."

Mr. Thompson said if students at private schools failed to wear the uniform, they would not be tolerated, and asked why CedarBridge should be different.

He added: "Because it's CedarBridge, I guess it's supposed to be a free for all? Either way, their good is condemned. No matter what the school did, somebody would say it was wrong."

And principal of private school Warwick Academy Bob Lennox said he, too, supported CedarBridge.

He said his school had a similar uniform code, which was expected to be met, however, few people ever flouted it.

"Warwick Academy is proud of the standard of its uniform and supports all other schools who set the same standards," he said.

"Without a uniform, it becomes a fashion parade. It prevents squabbles and fights with regards to what people are wearing."

CedarBridge principal Kalmar Richards said parents had been told in July, in no uncertain terms, what the dress code was for the start of term, and all had ample time to meet it.

She said: "Parents were informed there would be a rigorous uniform inspection when students arrived and I have them the dates of that.

"Both parents and students need to meet the code otherwise there is no sense having it."