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Pupils were turned away from Caerphilly’s St Martin’s School this morning – because they weren’t wearing officially-branded shorts.

A concerned parent contacted Caerphilly Observer after their child was sent home. Although the shorts they were wearing were smart, tailored ones, they didn’t have the school logo.

They said: “The school sent loads of children home – and they were all wandering about Caerphilly – no parents were informed.

“I see this as being a safeguarding issue.”

Caerphilly Observer has also heard from parents who said pupils were sent home despite wearing branded shorts – over claims it wasn’t the right weather for them.

Last year the Welsh Government introduced guidelines for schools.

Under statutory guidance, introduced by the Welsh Government last year, schools must now consider the financial impact any changes to uniforms might have on families.

Uniform items branded with a school logo should not be compulsory while schools should also ensure second hand uniforms can be made available.

Items should also be available from multiple suppliers at reasonable prices and things such as blazers should be avoided.

St Martin’s uniform policy, available on its website, seemingly goes against these guidelines. Its items are only available from one supplier, YC Sports, which at the time of publication doesn’t appear to stock the branded tailored shorts required by the school.

The school does operate a scheme where parents can donate old items of uniform and which pupils can borrow from on a short-term basis.

Caerphilly Observer contacted St Martin’s School for comment while Caerphilly County Borough Council said it was an issue for the school.

This week, with the improving weather, the school sent a letter to parents reminding them that black tailored shorts had to be worn. The letter did not say they had to be branded.

Last year the school was criticised for putting undue financial pressure on parents with a laptop buying scheme.

The Welsh Government offers a School Essentials Grant with up to £200 available to eligible families to help purchase school uniform and equipment.

Lisa Watkins runs Caerphilly Uniform Exchange – a community interest company based in Lansbury Park, where old school uniforms can be donated for others to use.

Speaking last year, when the Welsh Government issued the new guidelines for uniforms, she said: “It’s important to stress it’s not necessarily the people on the lowest incomes who are affected.

“There should be no financial burden associated with sending a child to school.”