THE mother of a 14-year-old girl has no regrets about keeping her daughter off school because of her nose piercing.

La Mare de Carteret High pupil Shannon Penney (pictured) has returned to classes after two-and-a-half weeks off while her piercing healed. Such body art is banned at the school.

Mum Claire said Shannon had settled back in well and that nothing had been said at the school about the incident.

‘Obviously she has missed out on a bit but, under the same circumstances, I would do the same thing again,’ said Mrs Penney.

She maintains she never received a letter from the school informing her that nose studs were banned and let Shannon have the piercing during the Christmas holidays.

The school insisted she take it out, but Mrs Penney said Shannon could stay off class until it was properly healed.

‘I still think it was wrong that she could not wear it with a plaster over it,’ she said.

She was surprised by the interest the story provoked.

‘The comments were unbelievable. I found it quite surprising that people judged me and made assumptions that I lived in a States house and was on benefits, because I am not,’ said Mrs Penney.

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