Parents have hit out at a school’s uniform policy after it was announced ‘full rules’ would remain in place during the heatwave.
But Lord Williams's School in Thame maintain its policies are mindful of their students 'comfort' and 'wellbeing.'
The secondary school said in a public statement: “We have had a number of enquiries about school uniform this week, given the warm weather.
“We would like to confirm that full uniform (i.e. including blazers and ties) should be worn to school from the start of term onwards.
READ MORE: Children's splash park urgently CLOSED as bacteria found in water
“During the day, should the classrooms become too warm, school staff will make decisions on any relaxion of rules on a lesson-by-lesson basis.
“Thank you for your understanding and support in ensuring the school term gets off to the best possible start.”
A follow-up email to parents read: "We are conscious of the heat warnings and guidance that exist and have monitored the temperature throughout the day in classrooms and around school.
“We believe that during the morning, when students are travelling to school and during the early lessons, the temperature is certainly cool enough for our expectations on school uniform to remain in place.
“As the day heats up, however, we will certainly be mindful of students’ wellbeing and allow them to remove their blazers as appropriate, as happened today."
The Facebook post sparked a debate on social media with several parents raising concerns about the policy.
One parent who wished to remain anonymous told The Oxford Mail: “It just seems crazy to me.
“Schools in this country are not built for hot weather. They do not have air conditioning.
“Lord Williams’s are quite strict on uniform normally, which is a good thing.
“But I do think they have made the wrong call in this situation."
Another added: “I think it’s barbaric- the adults are not being subjected to these conditions.
“The fact that they have given individual teachers a say on when they can and can’t be too hot is appalling.
“In the workplace the rules are often relaxed in hot weather so it should be the same for schools.
“Extra weight in their bags with their blazers in this heat is unnecessary.”
A spokesperson for the school said: “Students are not required to wear their blazers when it is too hot and all staff are reminding students that they can take their blazers off if they wish.
READ MORE: Woman, 27, killed in holiday bike crash died of 'severe head injury'
“Whenever it is hot, we relax the uniform rules to ensure that students are comfortable and they are certainly not required to wear their blazers when it is very warm.
“Having visited almost every lesson on the Lower School site this morning, the vast majority of students are choosing not to wear their blazers and school staff are doing what they can to make the classrooms as comfortable as possible.
“In response to student requests last summer, we introduced shorts as an option for students throughout the year and many are choosing to wear shorts as part of their uniform this week.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel