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AIBU?

Enforced wearing of blazer (wool) in hot weather

266 replies

Sweatingcobbles · 25/05/2017 22:48

I know in the grand scheme of things this week it isn't a massive crisis but aibu to think it's stupid that in 29 degree weather today school refused to let the children take their fairly thick wool blazer off.
They said it is to maintain smartness and an office like uniform.
I'd rather kids could concentrate on learning and exams rather than feeling sick or ill.
Ironically I was in the office today with sandals and a short sleeve top.

OP posts:
mynotsoperfectlife · 25/05/2017 22:49

I do think it's silly, yes.

Tootsiepops · 25/05/2017 22:51

It's stupid. We're looking at schools for our daughter atm and I'm rejecting any with overly strict uniform rules. It's petty nonsense.

Imnotaslimjim · 25/05/2017 22:52

It's bloody daft! I hated it when I was a DC. My school insisted on full uniform at all times, including in the classroom. They didn't even change the rule when someone collapsed from over heating.

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 25/05/2017 22:53

I don't have secondary age kids and am not a teacher so maybe I just don't get it but I totally agree with you. Stupid irresponsible rules - do they want pupils to faint? all senior school around us are the same Angry.

GwendolynMary · 25/05/2017 22:53

I went to a stuffy school in Australia and they made us wear blouses with ties, thick tunics and a wooden blazer, with stockings and gloves from April to September. Just like the mother country, except it was often well over 30 and 80% humidity over the sub-tropical 'winter.' It's hard to look smart when you are bright red and sweaty! Grin

FelixtheMouse · 25/05/2017 22:54

Only once were we ever allowed to take ours off when I was at school in the 70s was when the thermometer hit 93F. That's 34C. Girls in summer dresses Boyd sweating in blazers and ties. Bloody stupid. YANBU.

mynotsoperfectlife · 25/05/2017 22:56

Academies are trying to emulate private schools with plaid skirts/pinafores, blazers, ties and draconian rules. I think it's silly personally. A polo shirt and trousers would suffice. But ... :)

hellomoon · 25/05/2017 22:56

This was used as a punishment at my school- anyone messes around and the whole class had to put our blazers on. Taking them off without permission got a detention.

I have vivid memories of banging my head on the desk in front of me when I passed out in the heat.

The following day back in school.... Blazers on.

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 25/05/2017 22:58

I really don't get this. What is the supposed logic? Or is it just some shit about smart uniform improving results and behaviour? FWIW I am a uniform fan as long as there is flexibility in it.

Notcontent · 25/05/2017 22:58

It's quite ridiculous. I work in a formal office environment (a law firm) and no one bothers with a jacket unless they are going to a meeting with a client. Ties are on the way out too...

pieceofpurplesky · 25/05/2017 22:59

The school I work in has strict uniform - but when it's hot blazers are off ...

MacarenaFerreiro · 25/05/2017 23:02

The school I work in has strict uniform - but when it's hot blazers are off

And the school my kids go to. Because they have common sense. In hot weather the kids usually wear their blazers to school because it's not so hot at 8.30am, but by morning break the blazers are discarded and the kids are walking around in shirts only.

justgivemethepinot · 25/05/2017 23:02

It's ridiculous. A family member of mine actually fainted in class a few years ago in 29 degree heat because they had to wear their blazers. The teacher? Nice cool loose short sleeve shirt with no tie.......

mynotsoperfectlife · 25/05/2017 23:03

Our school makes children wear them for moving around the building.

Have no idea why.

Huldra · 25/05/2017 23:10

Yes, it's silly.

My eldest is at a secondary where they have to wear business dress, so suit, shirt and tie. It can be any work appropriate suit and shirt. Suit jackets can be quite light and they can wear short sleeved shirts underneath. They're allowed to take the jacket off when they want.

At his previous secondary they had to wear long sleeved shirts and the school jumper all the time, no matter what the weather. They were only allowed to take it off when the teacher told them in class.

Wool blazers aren't often seen in the work place.

Huldra · 25/05/2017 23:15

My youngest goes to a secondary where the uniform is
Black trousers or skirt.
Polo in school colour.
Grey jumper or cardigan if they want.
And yes, they can wear shorts in summer.

No school tie, no blazer, no having to wear 2 long sleeved layers in heat. I'll be sending him off in shorts, polo shirt and those black smart trainers tomorrow.

towelpintpeanuts · 25/05/2017 23:20

Bonkers. My dd's school sent out an email this week to say blazers not needed this week - and they have a summer polo shirt for the summer term only. Very sensible imo.

liz70 · 25/05/2017 23:26

"Just like the mother country"

Only it's not, because generally here school girls tend to wear gingham dresses in summer, or at least they do in primary school. Tunics/skirts and ties and blouses are strictly for cooler weather wear - at least that's been the case for my mum, myself, and my three DDs. And I know what I'd far rather wear if I were growing up in Australia!

RedBugMug · 25/05/2017 23:27

it's silly.
when it's hot in my office it's summery outfits without jackets, the business like argument is just stupid.

TheMysteriousJackelope · 25/05/2017 23:33

It is ridiculous.

I went to a school with the most hideous uniform imaginable and the poor teachers used to have to stand at the exits and make sure we wearing our blazers, straw boaters, and white gloves as we left, but we never had to wear the gloves, blazer and hat once we were inside the school. What is wrong with the rest of the uniform that it needs a blazer to make it look smart? It surely isn't short shorts and a Kiss Me Quick t-shirt so why wear blazers inside the building?

liz70 · 25/05/2017 23:36

I went to a convent school in the 80s. Summer uniform was the standard skirt worn with a revere collar i.e. open necked blouse and jumper or cardie, and white ankle socks. The tie was mothballed until the autumn term.

SparklyUnicornPoo · 25/05/2017 23:37

I refused to let my DD(8) take her wool blazer in today, I wrote a note telling the school "DD does not have her blazer today because it is too hot and I took it away from her, she did explain that it was against the school rules and that she would get in trouble, I have however decided it's a stupid rule and that she will not be punished for my decision, if there is an issue with this please call me on xxxxx" I did get a call, apparently my attitude is unhelpful and I should know how important it is for school rules to be reinforced at home (I work in a school) but she wasn't told off.

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SapphireSeptember · 25/05/2017 23:45

That's really ridiculous. If you work in office you get to decide if you wear a jacket or not. I wear a uniform at work, we are provided with fleeces, I don't think I've ever worn mine, I wear my own jacket to work and then I just have my shirt on afterwards because I get hot when I'm at work.
Whenever I hear about these stupid rules I'm waiting for a school to be sued when a kid passes out, it'll happen, I'm sure of it. What would they do if all the kids refused to wear their blazers one day?

SapphireSeptember · 25/05/2017 23:46

Sparkly That's the spirit! Grin

confuugled1 · 25/05/2017 23:49

I would pull them up and say that they're not safeguarding the children if they're making them wear a thick wool blazer in this sort of heat - especially if they're in a school that gets hotter indoors during the day in the summer... If they splutter and say that it's not safeguarding then ask what they would call it because it's certainly not looking after the best interests of the pupils or the teachers. I would also ask to see their risk assessment for having pupils in school in their wool blazers on days when the outside temperature is 24C, 28C, 32C and higher, what provisions are made to check the temperature inside (guessing different rooms will have different temperatures depending on windows, ventilation, shade, kit (cookery room or computer room likely to be hotter than a history room for example), doing PE, and at what point do they allow the pupils to take off their uniform, given that the World Health Organisation suggests that 24C is the maximum for comfortable indoor working and anything above 26C as unacceptable - and that would be assuming that 'appropriate' clothing would be worn too...

Any chances that there's a parent that's a doctor or HSE official that could pull them up on this and point out it's dangerous?

I was at a private school in the 80s where they were crazy about uniform - but in the summer there was no way they would make us wear jumpers or blazers, you got to choose yourself when you were in shirt sleeves or wore a jumper or a summer uniform dress. I remember once in 5 years being told we had to wear a blazer to look smart - it wasn't a particularly hot summer's day, but it was founders day so one of those strange ones when the whole school was on display and they liked everyone to look the same. But that was for an hour or two, not all day, and on a special occasion. Other years if it was hot they would make everybody wear the summer dress uniform without a blazer so we all looked the same for the occasion. They didn't want kids keeling over! Much more sensible approach.

Unfortunately there's no maximum temperature specified for working in an office in the UK, the regulations just say that it needs to be reasonable (there's a minimum set of 16C though!). I don't know how they can argue that this heat is reasonable - particularly if they make the kids wear a thick jacket.

Just out of interest - are all the staff wearing thick jackets too?

It might be worth contacting the HSE to see if there is anything they could say that would help to sway the minds of the school...

These articles are interesting:

bbc
document
mumsnet with interesting link

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