School insist on black trousers for summer

[Berrypavlova]

Hi,

My son is in Y7 and so about to have his first June / July at his new secondary school.
the uniform insists on black trousers for boys even on sunniest days. This seems madness to me, but apparently they refuse to budge on the rule.

Does anyone have any clever ideas how to manage without the boys all melting? I have looked for lightweight school trousers but cannot find anything suitable.

thanks v much

If you live in Morocco, I can see your point. But if in UK, I really can’t. You can count on both hands how many uncomfortably hot days we have in summer, which is why is was the topic of conversation everywhere last year, because we had about a month of it. Let’s be honest, there’s only possibly the first few weeks in July when it might be a problem, as they don’t go back to school until September after the summer break. A whole lot of angst over nothing…

Does anyone have any clever ideas how to manage without the boys all melting?

It's ok, it will not happen. You don't need any clever ideas. Nobody is going to melt.

40 degree heat @Comedycook? It's not that temperature ever in the U.K.

My DS had to wear shorts until the end of Year 6, come what may. Including in sub-zero temperatures. Being allowed to wear long trousers was a Year 7 and Year 8 privilege

If it's the uniform, it's the uniform, and there's not a lot you can do about it.

I don't like school uniform but normally schools are ok and manage it accordingly.

Ours are told to stop wearing blazers in class when it's around 25 degrees and most have short sleeve shirts anyway so it's not that hot. I don't think any teen wants to be seen dead in shorts, long socks and black formal shoes anyway, I find it looks stupid when they are in Y6, especially the ones with early growth spurs.

I agree, the usual excuse of being prepared for work is getting old and nothing is worse than the words "smart casual".

School I worked in allowed shorts - not one kid chose to wear them

Dcs secondary have said from next year they can wear formal black shorts in the summer (all dcs friends have said they'll stick to trousers). It's not cool apparently. Also don't think it's common when I looked for some for dc 15-16 just incase there wasn't many so would imagine there's limited demand.

My DC’s went to a non uniform school so shorts and T-shirt in the warmer weather. Its ridiculous having to ask permission to remove a layer of clothing - everyone is different so feeling warm to some is perfectly ok to others. Blazers are a stupid idea - serve no purpose.

Have you contacted the school and governors about the ‘rules”?

Not many work places allow shorts soooooo

They aren’t at work. They’re children at school.

I love the fact people say "suck it up it prepares you for the world of work".

Have you not seen what the teachers wear to work in them summer?

And I include myself in that!!!!

I didn’t read all the responses but to the people posting that they coped back in the day well things have changed and we’ve had 40 temperatures, it is also ridiculous at our school. They had a fire alarm with hours outside with no shade or water and people fainted. The schools need to wise up to global warning.

Just out of interest what happens if someone gets too hot and takes the blazer off? I know how hot classrooms can get with 30+ kids in them. If they're otherwise well behaved and just discreetly take the blazer off, in reality what will be done?

What do you propose instead? Most secondary schools I know do not allow shorts.

Have you asked why not?

Pretty standard.

@Parker231 I know a few parents contacted the school and the academy last year when it was ridiculously hot but they just said they have provisions in place for the hot weather i.e lots of water and blazers off when it’s “too hot”.

If it was my DC’s I would be telling that your comfort comes first - can’t learn properly if you are uncomfortable and they are old enough to make their own decisions as to whether they are too hot/cold.

@Thinkwicebeforeyouleavemylife they are told to put it back on and then a detention if not, I think they are slightly more lenient in the hot weather and they can take it off at break time. It’s ridiculous and sometimes he comes home with a banging headache.

Wearing long trousers in hot weather is uncomfortable.

I wouldn't choose to wear trousers when warm, actually haven't worn trousers for the last 2 weeks as it's been sunny and dry here. I'm not sure why it's so hard to believe that it would be something an 11/12 year old would find hot and restricting.

OP, does the school have a pe kit policy when it's over a certain temp? A lot around here do.

So do most people who have a work uniform. Fail to see what the issue is? Shorts are for little kids and he defo won't want to stand out from the rest.

My kids high school uniform in trousers all year round and we live in Melbourne.

In the height of those really hot days last year they could wear pe shorts, jumpers become non compulsory when it gets warmer.

Sorry at my DC's school.

Linen?
Skirt?