A 12-year-old girl stopped from wearing a Spice Girl-inspired Union Jack dress to celebrate Britishness on a cultural day at her school has opened up about the ordeal. Proud Courtney Wright had purchased the “sparkly” dress and matching bowler hat for Culture Celebration Day at Bilton School in Rugby, Warwickshire, on Friday, July 11.

But Courtney, whose outfit she said was inspired by Geri Halliwell’s iconic Spice Girls dress, was stopped at the gates by a member of staff as soon as she arrived and ordered to change out of her outfit. Instead of being able to enjoy a day with her classmates celebrating cultures, Courtney was isolated from other pupils and not allowed in lessons before her dad, Stuart Field, arrived to pick her up. Courtney has now opened up to the Express about her ordeal and revealed how she really feels about the dress ban.

Mr Field, 47, said his daughter Courtney Wright was removed last week “without saying a single word” and without being allowed to make an inclusive speech about the importance to her of being British, which referenced drinking tea, fish and chips and values of fairness and politeness.

After Mr Field posted Courtney’s stressful experience online, he received support from all over the world, and the pair were invited to Parliament to meet MPs.

Bilton School have since performed a huge U-turn on their decision and said in a statement “we deeply regret the distress this has caused and offer our sincere and unreserved apologies.”

The school has offered Courtney the opportunity to speak at an assembly and a charity event wearing the Union flag dress.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, Courtney said trouble started as soon as she arrived at the school gates.

She said: “You were supposed to be allowed to say something about your culture, and then the teachers were taking pictures of everyone in their costume, but they didn’t take pictures of me. I wasn’t even allowed in the school.

“I went to the school gates, and someone came up to me and said I am going to take you somewhere to get changed and then after that, I was just put in reception all day.”

Courtney, who has just two days left at school before the summer break, added: “I felt embarrassed, because everyone my age was saying how it was such a cool dress, and then I was told I had to change it.

“It upset me because I came in really proud, I bought the dress, I chose it myself as I was going to be Ginger Spice, it’s iconic and then I was told I am not allowed in lessons either.

“Dad came and picked me up then and then they just spoke to my dad.

“Since it’s happened, I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and say ‘is that you on the news?’, people have said to me ‘I am on all the apps when they open them’, I’ve had my friends say ‘oh my God, Courtney, the school were being horrible to you’.

“They all loved the dress on the day, what’s not to like, it’s so sparkly.

“My friends have said I should have been allowed to celebrate your culture and so should everyone else.”

Addressing the school’s offer to give her a speech at an assembly, Courtney said: “To be honest, how I was treated, I don’t really feel comfortable. Going up with the teachers and doing that again, I just don’t understand why I couldn’t do it on the day and why I can do it now.”

Dad Stuart said initially, all he was offered was a phone call from the school two days after it happened.

He said: “They have basically U-turned on everything that they said at the start, they now want Courtney to go and do her speech at a school assembly, they want Courtney to run a charity event in the dress. But they are box ticking as far as I am concerned, you can’t do that to children and do a complete U-turn, they are her teachers, they are supposed to be her role models, and all this is teaching is that it’s ok to do a complete U-turn and say everything is alright. It’s not alright.

“Courtney has a representation of what her British culture is, she chose her dress, she wrote her speech, but it might be different for everyone, my personal view would be a man in a pin-striped suit and a bowler hat.

“But for this 12-year-old, this is her representation of what British culture is to her, and that’s what has been missed by the school.

“What was said was if she had turned up in a suit of armour or a nurse’s outfit, she would probably have been allowed in. I don’t see many kids walking around in a suit of armour and I don’t see how a nurse’s outfit is culturally relevant to Great Britain.”

MP Suella Braverman commented: “Courtney’s speech and outfit were brilliant. We need more people like Courtney in Parliament who are proud to be British, proud of our culture, and proud of our history.”This episode is crazy and outrageous. It is a shameful indictment of not only free speech but also the woke DEI agenda that has captured our schools and the country under this terrible Labour Government.

“My team has been in contact with Courtney’s father and I will be delighted to show Courtney and her dad around Parliament so they can show this place what proper common sense and patriotism are.

“We are getting a date sorted.”

A statement issued on behalf of the school by the Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust said: “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.

“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.

“We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that every student feels recognised and supported when expressing pride in their heritage.”

The statement, which said the school was proud of its students’ diversity and the rich heritage they bring to the community, 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.”

The school had billed the day as an opportunity for pupils to wear attire reflecting their nationality or family heritage, rather than a school uniform.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in on the school’s decision.

Sir Keir Starmer‘s official spokesman appeared to side with Courtney and her family. They said: “I think the school has put out a statement on this, so I’m not going to comment further, but the Prime Minister has always been clear that being British is something to be celebrated.”