Mum ‘disgusted’ at ban on daughter’s wrist band

A PUPIL at a school near the home of the Royal Marines has been banned from wearing a Help for Heroes wrist band — over health and safety fears.

Sarah-Jane Chalk, 15, started wearing the colourful bracelet to show her support for the work of British troops overseas, including a member of her own family.

However, staff at Exmouth Community College in Devon have now told her to remove the ‘Support the Royal Marines’ band because it is a health and safety risk.

The college is based a few miles from the Commando Training Centre in the village of Lympstone.

Sarah-Jane was warned about the band once and when she was spotted wearing it a second time she was disciplined by her head of year.

She was then sent into a temporary exclusion room.

Sarah-Jane’s mother Susan, 42, of Exmouth, said: “I’m disgusted because by wearing the wrist bands, she is supporting our troops.”

Tony Alexander, college principal, said the school actively supported the Help for Heroes campaign and would be holding a charity event later this term.

He said: “Wrist bands are not allowed for the simple reason that they contravene our strict uniform policy.”