Our kids are being punished for wearing the wrong uniform in warm weather – but it’s not our fault
PARENTS claim boys at a school have been punished for wearing the wrong shorts during the recent warm spell.
One pupil claimed to have suffered from heat exhaustion after he was put into “isolation” for the day because he had the wrong shorts on.
Now some parents at Cwmtawe Community School near Swansea in Wales have accused the school of forcing boys to wear ‘tailored’ shorts that some families cannot afford to buy.
A spokesperson for the school has said its uniform requirements are clearly communicated to parents and that it has a shorts option which is cost-effective.
There is also support in place to help families in the cost-of-living crisis, added the spokesperson.
Craig Battenbough, 33, from Rhyd-y-fro said his son wore a skirt for a week in protest of the “strict” uniform policy.
Speaking to Wales Online he claimed that when he picked his son Cellan up from school, he told his dad that he had not been
allowed out of the room all day.
Craig claimed he son was soaked in sweat and seemed to be suffering with heat exhaustion.
He said:”During the extreme heat we faced over the last couple of weeks, Cwmtawe school has been placing the boys into isolation rooms with no air conditioning.”
“This is all down to the school not allowing our children the ability to just wear plain black shorts rather than the tailored shorts that some parents can’t afford or can’t find in shops,”
Craig claimed that the school appeared to have a more relaxed policy for girls.
He said: “You will find the girls can wear extremely short skirts that don’t adhere to school uniform policy but the boys are punished.
“We ask that the school be less strict with the school uniform policy and in extreme temperatures so that our children are cooler and more comfortable.”
Hannah Fletcher, 32, claimed it was unfair to expect parents to fork out more money on tailored shorts a few weeks before the end of term.
“My son needs a certain brand which aren’t cheap due to sensory issues with clasps and these would set me back £30 a pair when there is no guarantee that the weather will stay hot,” she said.
A spokesperson from Cwmtawe Community School said: “Our school uniform requirements are clearly communicated to all parents/carers and are available on our website.
“A few years ago, we consulted with parents/carers and pupils and introduced a shorts option for the summer months.
“These are standard cost-effective uniform items available in most supermarkets, from around £4 a pair.
“Parents also liked the idea that they could use the trousers that their child had outgrown and easily convert into shorts.
“This year, we wrote to all parents/carers in May to remind them of the shorts option before the recent warm weather commenced.
“We have a range of support in place to assist families with cost of living. In addition to Welsh Government’s School Essentials Grant, which is available to all eligible households, we also have a Pupil Wellbeing and Support Fund.
“Any parents/carers experiencing financial difficulties with uniform should contact us in confidence and we will do our best to support.”