TEENAGE girls accused staff at Shelley College of “heavy-handed” tactics over a school make-up ban.

Year 11 students say the school has gone over the top in removing mirrors from the girls’ toilets.

The college has banned students from wearing make-up and has issued teachers with make-up removal kits and nail varnish remover.

Girls claim they are checked for make-up every day and are threatened with isolation if they refuse to take it off.

A student, who asked not to be named, told how mirrors in the girls’ toilets were boarded over last term but because girls had uncovered them again they had been removed altogether over the holidays.

The girl said: “This ban is just ridiculous and the school is going to extreme lengths to stop us wearing make-up.’’

Our story, which was picked up the BBC and national newspapers didn’t do enough to convince Seanster that it was interesting: “Hmmm ... quiet day on the Examiner news front today.”

Ouch, that hurts!

For Magdale it was black and white issue (unlike the necks and faces of the pupils which I presume had a distinct terracotta hue): “Schools have rules and if you don’t like them ... tough.

“You are there to learn. It is not a beauty pageant every day.”

Crystal had a simple remedy: “Should make them go home, wash the stuff off, then return.’’

BeverleyH thought there were deeper issues rather than the skin-deep nature of make-up: “The school should never have allowed make-up in the first place.

“Girls have been wearing make-up to school for a number of years now without being reprimanded so I can understand why the girls who have got used to wearing it feel unhappy at now being told they can’t.

“For some it is, very sadly, a confidence thing.

“While I agree with the stricter policy and would support the school, I do feel they have to take responsibility for allowing standards to slip in the first place.”

You can’t say fairer than that.

It wasn’t enough for Grumpyguts: “The college has banned students from wearing make-up and has issued teachers with make-up removal kits and nail varnish remover, but at what cost to council taxpayers?

“Also, I doubt teachers will be allowed to touch the little blighters to remove the warpaint anyway!”

Warren05 is cheeky: “I hope this no make-up rule applies to the teachers as well.”