My daughter’s school banned students from wearing shorts despite summer heat – she got revenge
A MUM said her daughter’s school banned students from wearing shorts despite the summer heat – but she got revenge.
Shirebrook Academy, in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, has been slammed for not letting kids wear school shorts as temperatures topped 30C in some places.
While girls are allowed to wear skirts to cope with the warm weather, lads were reportedly told they still needed to turn up in black trousers.
Schoolboys were even sent home on days they had mock exams if they weren’t wearing the correct uniform, say parents.
Jade Candy, 36, whose daughter Connie is in year 7 at the school, said the situation is “ludicrous”.
And Connie, who has an older brother at the school, Archie, 15, decided to take a stand in support of him.
However, when she turned up in shorts she was put in isolation.
Jade said: “She went into school [wearing shorts] to make a stand and they put her in isolation.
“It’s just ludicrous.
“We’re fighting for this policy to be changed because it’s ridiculous.
“Last year, wearing shorts was fine – but we’ve got a new headteacher who is just set against it.
“The girls have a choice to wear skirts but the boys have none.
“If they come in with shorts on, they get sent home straight away.”
Jade said she asked the secondary school if son Archie could wear his PE kit because it was branded – but they said “no”.
She added: “I understand why there’s a uniform policy but when there’s a heatwave, there should be exceptional circumstances.
“The school seems more bothered about kids in shorts than their actual learning.
“Some kids have missed exams because they’ve been sent home.”
Why can girls wear skirts yet boys not wear shorts?
Leah Scott
A petition has since been made to change the school’s policy.
Reaching nearly 600 signatures already, many are desperate for governors to change the rules.
Leah Scott, 29, whose 12-year-old son is at the school, said: “Why can girls wear skirts yet boys not wear shorts?
“I see some of the older girls walking around with really short skirts yet that doesn’t seem to be frowned upon.
“The school’s reasoning is that they open windows and doors – but the boys are still in thick, black trousers.
“I don’t see how allowing them to wear shorts in hot weather is going to affect their learning.
“If anything, having to wear uncomfortable clothes is going to impact their education.
“I just think it’s ridiculous. You can get tailored, smart shorts from the supermarket.
“It won’t mean all the boys are turning up in Adidas and Nike shorts.”
The mum-of-three added: “It’s got to the point where I’ve thought twice about sending my lad in because I worry that he’s going to be too hot.
“I just don’t understand it at all.”
The school said it has measures in place to protect students during the hot weather.
A spokesman said: “The school has taken a number of steps during the current weather conditions to protect the welfare and safety of our students, as well as ensuring the academy remains conducive to learning.
“Steps include: opening all windows and doors from 6.45am; aerating the building to ensure an ambient temperature; and operating air conditioning in key areas.
“With regards to uniform, adjustments have been made to the uniform policy during this period of warmer temperatures, which include the optional removal of blazers and ties and the unbuttoning of top shirt buttons.
“We would like to thank the majority of our parent/carers who have supported these adjustments and also the students who continue to adhere to the policy.”