Freezing school

[notsureconfused]

My son is taking his mocks this week and next and I'm concerned that he's doing them in an absolutely freezing hall without any heating. He's the sort of person who is normally always hot but he's coming home chilled to the bone. He's doing 2 exams a day in there plus 2 hours revision so 6 hours per day in total. The supervising staff are walking around with big coats on! It's a private school and I've emailed the headmaster to say the temperature isn't adequate and it's affecting my sons concentration but I've not had a response yet. What else can I do? I feel like I don't want my son going in the hall next week if conditions aren't improved but I obviously don't want him to miss his mocks.

[HolaWeenie]

Would wearing some thermals help? I know it's not ideal and the environment should be warmed to an optimum temperature, but with the tight deadline and no response from the school it's probably best to think of something like thermals.

[notsureconfused]

He's already wearing a thermal vest but wouldn't be able to fit any bottoms under his slim leg school trousers. He's putting his gloves on during the revision times but obviously not during his exams. It just doesn't seem right.

[Witchend]

The problem often is that they're doing them in huge sports' halls where it is really difficult to get them heated adequately-they're designed for people running around in, not to sit down and stay still.

In the summer conversely they're often too hot.

[Inforthelonghaul]

Would nylon tights fit under his trousers? My son wore them when his school had a heating issue a couple of years ago and said they definitely kept him warmer. Also a long sleeve crew neck thermal top is better than a vest and shouldn’t show under a shirt and tie

[notsureconfused]

It's a really old school and they're doing them in what was an old theatre. Stupidly they do have a brand new theatre and sports hall that if not heated, would at least be adequately insulated. There's really not much difference between the hall they're in and being outdoors sadly.

[notsureconfused]

Yes thanks, I'll suggest the tights and long sleeve crew and we can get them this weekend. I really feel that school should be sorting this out though.

[CoffeeBeansGalore]

Thermal socks may help. Are fingerless gloves an option?

[FranticToddlerMum]

YANBU op it's not ideal. I'd just layer him up as much as possible.

[RoLaren]

It's common for all children to wear tights under trousers in Scandinavian countries. It really works.

[Soontobe60]

Get him some base layer leggings from Decathlon.

[bulgingtoolbox]

Home bargains do fleece lined tights. Really comfy and warm.

[sashh]

You could report the school because the teachers are working in a cold environment.

I really feel for your son though, I had to do a set of exams in winter without heating. It wa was a girls school so no trousers or tights allowed. Fingerless gloves are useful, the ones that have one opening for 44 fingers, you can hold a pen.

Is he allowed a drink? A hot drink would help. You can also get little hand warming 'pads' you 'snap' them and they heat up.

www.completecareshop.co.uk/physiotherapy-aids/hot-and-cold-therapy/hotteeze-hand-warmer-view-large?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2O6M8O745gIVCLDtCh29SgNOEAQYAiABEgK6IvD_BwE

[notsureconfused]

Thanks everyone, I'll kit him out with full thermals and tights this weekend. I'm just annoyed about it really as there's only about 60 students doing the mocks, they could split them in 2 and put them in 2 warm classrooms. I know they want to imitate exam conditions but it's just too cold. The school backs on to the beach and we're in the north so it really is a cold place at the best of times.

[annie987]

Merino wool layers are very thin but the warmest by a mile. Not cheap though.

[sashh]

Biker shops also sell thermals to wear under leathers.

Oh and in my previous post, 4 fingers, not 44, I'm not imagining your ds as some sort of octopus child hybrid.

[Ofthread]

Can you get a thermometer in there? Legal guideline is 16 degrees.

Minimum workplace temperature
The Approved Code of Practice suggests the minimum temperature in a workplace should normally be at least 16 degrees Celsius. If the work involves rigorous physical effort, the temperature should be at least 13 degrees Celsius.
Temperature: What the Law says - HSE
www.hse.gov.uk › temperature › law

[Johnathonripples]

He may be asked to remove fingerless gloves by invigilators if they are following exam conditions for mocks, because they will be thinking about hidden loose papers.
DC was not allowed to take anything into room apart from a see through pencil case containing only pens / pencils etc and a bottle of water with label removed or no patterns/ writing on bottle .Even watches had to be removed and placed on desk. All pockets were emptied outside the hall. Hand warmers/ thermometers wouldn’t have been allowed in.

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

When I have to do things in cold environments I often buy the stick on, disposable heat pads, for use on injuries etc www.boots.com/boots-direct-to-skin-heat-patch-4-patches. I can also be found with a hot water bottle under my jacket but not sure that would be allowed in exam.

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

To be honest I’d be inclined to resend email but cc in chair of governors.

[notsureconfused]

Well it ended up being a bit weird...my son was told he was being moved and they put him next to the one radiator in the entire hall. Then the headmaster came in to specifically ask him if he was warm enough and told him he could wear his coat like the supervising teachers were. The headmaster still hasn't emailed me back. And surely the fact that he's suggesting people wear coats indicates it's not warm enough? My son got the impression that the head was being sarcastic with him but doesn't want me to pursue it further.

[Ofthread]

Fyi, many people who work in UK schools are assholes! I know, I work in one.

[leccybill]

All of the keeping warm advice here is great but the issue of the temperature needs to be addressed, there are laws about it.
Our hall was too cold, we had to buy 10 portable heaters.

[Ofthread]

@leccybill Exactly, posters seem to be wary of criticising the school, who may not be creating the conditions for people to work safely.

[Ofthread]

Also, as background, where I work the heating has been broken for most of this winter, they are lucky to get away with it as it has been fairly mild. We are all under strict instruction not to confirm with students that the heating is, in fact, broken.