School in Union flag dress row closes early for summer after 'extremist threats'

A school has been forced to close early for the summer after receiving extremist threats over the reported isolation of a girl for wearing a Union flag dress to inclusion day.

In a letter to parents,Bilton School in Rugbysaid it is closing "in the interests of student and staff safety" following threats.

The letter, which was sent out on Thursday, told parents the school would be shuttered earlier than usual. School officials said they had decided to do so due to "extremist abuse online and via our telephone systems".

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"The nature and tone of this abuse has escalated in recent days, including personal threats to our staff," the letter continued.

On arrival at the school, Courtney was told her outfit - a sequined Union Flag dress inspired by the Spice Girls - was "unacceptable". She was then told to sit alone in reception until her dad could get off work to pick her up.

Speaking to the Express, she said: "It upset me because I came in really proud, I bought the dress, I chose it myself ... and then I was told I am not allowed in lessons."

"The nature and tone of [the] abuse has escalated in recent days, including personal threats to staff," the school said, as per LBC, explaining why pupils wouldn't come in for a half-day on Friday as previously scheduled.

"Our primary responsibility remains the safety and wellbeing of every child and member of staff. This is not a decision we have taken lightly ... the safety of our school community must come first."

The decision sparked uproar in the UK and further abroad, with messages of support emerging from countries like Australia and Poland.

The school issued an apology shortly after the row was made public in which they said they would "reflect on how [it] could have been handled better".

"We deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies," a statement released shortly after the news broke read.

"We are reviewing our policies and strengthening staff training to ensure our practices reflect our values of inclusion, respect and understanding for all."

At the school itself, the majority of parents are backing the family's position and feel it was wrong for the school to have excluded the youngster for wanting to celebrate her cultural identity.

"What kind of message does this send out to the local community?" one father asked.

"Cancelling a child because she's proud of her British heritage is outrageous. It's the head mistress who needs cancelling and who needs to stop hiding behind the school trust and make a public apology."

One dad, 44, whose 12-year-old daughter is in the same year as Courtney, told the MailOnline: "I couldn't believe it when I saw it on social media. It's disgusting if you think this was supposed to be about celebrating diversity. My daughter wore a tie made of the family tartan because we are Scottish and nothing was said about that.

"It's a medium multi-ethnic school and there were other pupils who wore traditional Asian dress and headwear which was acceptable, so why not allow a union flag dress?"

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