'People have had enough about being told what they can and can't do' says Union Jack dad

A fuming father has declared "something must change" after his 12 year old daughter was removed from a diversity class for wearing a dress adorned with the Union Flag.

Stuart Field, aged 47, is adamant that "people have had enough about being told what they can and can't do" following his daughter Courtney Wright's isolation at school, which provoked an outcry in the local community.

Despite Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, issuing an apology, a spokesperson for Keir Starmer has underscored that "being British is something to be celebrated."

Mr Field also disclosed that students displaying St George's flags and Welsh flags were rejected at the school gates.

In a recent video, he vented: "What happened on Friday should not happen to any child in the UK. It has caused a lot of upset in the UK, I think people have had enough about being told what they can and can't do when they are being proud to celebrate their own culture and own history. I don't think this is going to end anytime soon, unless something changes."

Working in marine restoration, Mr Field refrained from specifying the changes he envisages but expressed confidence that the school's reprimand has struck a nerve with a broader societal exasperation over the issue.

The school, rated as Good by Ofsted, had promoted the day as a chance for students to wear clothing that represented their nationality or family heritage, instead of their usual school uniform.

However, shortly after Courtney arrived in her Spice Girls-inspired dress, the young girl was removed from classes "without saying a single word" and was not permitted to deliver her inclusive speech about the significance of being British to her, which mentioned drinking tea, eating fish and chips, and values of fairness and politeness,reports the Mirror.

"Courtney was so embarrassed and couldn't comprehend what she'd done wrong. She should not be made to feel ashamed about being British. She shouldn't be penalised for celebrating British culture and history - nobody else I've spoken to can quite understand it," said Stuart, a father-of-five from Coventry, West Midlands.

"Someone at the school has politicised a Union Jack dress even though that was clearly not Courtney's intention. Courtney didn't do anything political. It's about being British, the Spice Girls and even the freedom to wear a dress. This was her interpretation of British culture and what it means to her."

A statement released on behalf of the school by the Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust read: "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."

The school issued a statement expressing remorse for the incident: "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."

The statement continued: "We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage."

Highlighting the school's pride in its diverse student body and the unique heritage each pupil brings, the statement added: "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. We are committed to fostering an environment where every pupil feels respected, valued, and included."