To think boys in school uniform shorts at -3c is neglect.

[DragonMumE]

Just returned from rural primary school in Lakes. Young lads in school uniform shorts - it's minus 3 here. I class this as neglect. Discuss.

Are people struggling to afford winter school uniform? Aldi sells school trousers for less than a coffee (1.75 gbp?) Or worse are they indifferent?

My daughter would take off her coat and cardigan and just walk home in the polo shirt in Yorkshire in January. I suspect I was judged!

All my boys wear shorts to school. They choose to wear them!

I think it's more neglect to not allow kids to take off blazers in 30 degree heat tbh

Skirts usually worn with tights. I don't remember being cold in the 80s and my classroom for 2 years was a portacabin.

Probably going to grow up to be postmen.

DS15 would happily wear shorts all day every day.

Only time he wears long trousers is for school and that's only because it's policy.

I must remember to tell him when he gets home that he is neglected.

DD wears skirt with thick socks and boots (ie no tights). She understands the need to wear warm clothes, she just doesnt bother. Shes 13, so probably rolls her skirt up shorter as soon as shes out of my sight, too.

Mr Monkey, early 50s, works in a running shop and has just trotted off to work in a hoodie and shorts.

I do think the blazers at heat is dangerous. Not something we had at my top 10 state secondary. We were allowed to undo buttons and to wear just shirts. Also allowed short sleeve shirts.

Depends on why they are wearing shorts - I know a few that happily insist on shorts no matter what the weather is like. It's only wrong if they are unhappy and freezing and it's not their choice.

My late step dad preferred shorts. Flipping covid and cancer!

I was at school somewhere colder than the North West of England and the girl’s uniform was skirt and socks. No tights to be worn until sixth and upper sixth. We also had a regulation school coat which was a fairly thin mackintosh so there was no possibility of layering up really or wearing a thick coat in very cold weather. I don’t remember ever being really cold however strangely!

U less they are outside most of the day it's absolutely fine and ridiculous to call it neglect.

at the secondary round here they aren't allowed anything but long trousers.

At some schools it’s the uniform. Shorts unless it’s a PE day, in which case they can wear joggers. Some still choose to wear shorts rather than joggers though!

My 13 year old wears shorts when he’s not at school in all weathers, so does my 22 yo they don’t feel cold. My youngest has a friend who, in primary never wore long trousers ever that I recall anyway. He was a very active lad I assume he was warm enough. He’s now at high school and my son said it’s weird seeing him with trousers on.

I remember wearing skirts with bloody awful woolly tights that were itchy as hell, I’d rather have worn trousers but then I feel the cold unlike my kids

the lads in question will have three breaks today. trust me it's hellish cold. It's the coldest I've ever known it.

Neglect and/or neurodiverse? My poor kids.

A uniform bank is a good idea though regardless.

My teen went out in shorts when it was minus 13 last year. Nuts.

Is it shorts with knee high socks? Makes a big difference.

They look silly though

It is. I'd happily donate. I take old school stuff to Blackpool.

My son will not wear school trousers. End of. He hates the feel of them. Definitely a sensory thing and not neglect.

At 11, and a strong gymnast, I can hardly pin him down and dress him.

Trousers soak up rain water/snow from the ground meaning they can end up sitting for a couple of hours with damp ankles. Shorts/skirts avoid that problem.

Policy at my school in NE Scotland back in the early 00s was that primary boys were to be in shorts year round, and girls in kilts (albeit we could wear tights). Very few people had a problem with it!

Perhaps if they're v active they don't feel the cold. I know on nights out when younger I didn't.