Skyla Tomlin, a 13-year-old girl, was diagnosed with a stage three ingrown toenail and prescribed penicillin to take four times a day until surgery. Despite having a doctor’s note, she was singled out by her school for wearing black trainers. The medical condition made wearing the school-regulated shoes excruciatingly painful for Skyla. She was treated like a naughty child, causing her school attendance to drop to 86%. Skyla had been missing school on and off for two months and eventually stopped attending altogether due to the situation. Her mother, Laura, expressed frustration at the school’s handling of her daughter’s medical condition.
Laura first noticed Skyla’s ingrown toenail in November 2023, although Skyla had hidden it from her mother for weeks prior. The condition had developed so much that surgery was needed to remove it, and penicillin was prescribed until then. Skyla’s GP had issued a doctor’s note, giving her permission to wear her PE trainers to school. However, upon returning to school after the Christmas holidays, Skyla was sent out of class for wearing her black Nike Air Force Ones. Despite showing her doctor’s note to the teachers, she continued to be reprimanded, leading to her increased anxiety about attending school.
The situation escalated on January 15 when Skyla called her mother in tears after being disciplined again. Laura’s attempts to engage with the school administration for reasonable adjustments for her daughter’s medical condition were met with refusal. The school, Mayfield Senior School, offered to buy Skyla another pair of appropriate shoes that were comfortable for her to wear and in line with their uniform guidelines. Despite efforts by both sides, the matter remained unresolved, and Skyla’s mental health suffered as a result. She expressed feeling upset and isolated from her friends, having been treated as a distraction and punished instead of receiving the support she needed.
The Mayfield Senior School headteacher, Ashley Howard, stated that the school is committed to supporting every pupil, including providing Skyla with new shoes to assist with her condition. The school offered to cover the cost of another pair of appropriate shoes that would be comfortable for Skyla to wear in accordance with the uniform policy. However, the ongoing conflict between Laura and the school resulted in Skyla refusing to attend classes. Laura felt that her daughter had been unfairly targeted and called for the school to make reasonable accommodations for Skyla’s medical condition. The situation had a detrimental impact on Skyla’s mental well-being, leading to her withdrawal from school and social interactions with her peers.
While the school attempted to resolve the issue by offering solutions for Skyla to wear appropriate footwear, the conflict between Laura and the administration continued. Skyla’s distress and anxiety about attending school due to the uniform policy that caused her pain and discomfort persisted. As the case attracted media attention, the school faced scrutiny for its handling of Skyla’s medical condition and the impact it had on the teenager’s mental health. Laura emphasized the need for schools to consider medical conditions and make reasonable adjustments to support students like Skyla, ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment for all.
