Parents last night claimed CedarBridge Academy had its priorities all wrong by sending children home from school if they failed to show up without a part of their uniform or identification card.

Mothers and a father who called The Royal Gazette said they were totally in favour of a zero tolerance policy on bad behaviour and lack of respect to both teachers and children, but said students should not be made to miss class because of "minor" mistakes.

Parent Queenie Gay, who has a 15-year-old son at the school, said she was a member of the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) at the school, but did not support the severe line it took on uniform.

She spoke out after president of the PTSA, Terry Flood, urged parents to back the school in its stance on standards, or take their children elsewhere.

He said the school policy was that if children misbehaved or were without a part of their uniform, they would be sent home.

But Mrs. Gay said he should have spoken to members of the association before making the statement.

She said: "I believe very strongly in discipline and I support the school fully on its zero tolerance when we have disruption in the classroom, and I agree that kids should wear their uniforms.

"They should be reprimanded if they fail to have a piece of it, and maybe parents should be called, but they should not lose their education because of it.

"I have been fighting this issue of sending children home because they do not have a piece of their CedarBridge uniform.

"If they don't have the correct colour socks on, or they don't have the right tie, they are sent home and may miss up to half a day of studies. It isn't right.

"I don't equate that to disruptive behaviour from a child, and I think the school should get its priorities right."

And Mrs. Gay, from Warwick, said she also planned to write to the school about the fact the building was security locked throughout the day.

She added: "Locking doors is teaching children to be animals. How do you teach a child to be responsible when you lock them in?"

One parent from Somerset, who did not wish to be named, said his son had been sent home before for not taking his IDcard to school.

And another mother, who did not wish to be named, said her child had been sent home for not wearing the correct colour socks.

She said: "My child is always in uniform, but because they didn't wear their socks one day, they were sent home.

"It's ridiculous that students are getting sent home because they are wearing white socks. So many parents are so fed up with CedarBridge, they don't want to send their children back there."

Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith praised the PTSA for supporting the school, and urged parents and the school to meet half way on the uniform issue.

He said: "What we have is a school that is attempting to set high standards. Who can argue with that? If there is a rule about the wearing of school uniforms then parents and students should be concerned about whether it is applied firmly and fairly.

"Either there is a uniform or there isn't. If sending children home because they are not in uniform generates resentment and provokes parents, then it is reasonable to consider other sanctions first.

"In the event of multiple offences, however, I think it is reasonable for parents to be advised that their child will be sent home at the time of the next infraction."

Last night the PTSA's Mr. Flood said any parent who did not agree with the hard line against uniform offenders should speak to principal Kalmar Richards.

He said the issue may be addressed at tonight's PTSA meeting, but said time would be a factor as Police would be giving a presentation on the dangers of drugs.

Chairman of the school board Marc Telemaque said he would not respond to the parents' complaints through the media and said parents should address their concerns to the principal.

Mrs. Richards was not available for comment last night.