Do you think schools should relax uniforms policies re hot weather

[Cozc]

Going to be 26-31c for the rest of the month. My friend’s DD’s academy has told pupils and parents that they are not allowed to remove blazers in lessons (bar PE).

This is ridiculous. Bet the female teachers are wearing light floaty dresses, skirts and short sleeve tops. Male teachers - short sleeve shirts and a lighter coloured trousers.

Why do schools expect the pupils to wear a blazer?

DS’s Independent school is the same. They also allow them to roll their shirt sleeves up above their elbows as they wear long sleeved shirts year round.

Yep, ours is the same. They still look smart in shorts and logo's t-shirt, but much more comfortable

DD’s school requires jumpers and blazers at all times. There is a “hot weather policy” that allows jumpers and blazers to be removed during lunch and allows the students to ask permission from the teacher to remove during class. Most teachers allow the blazer to come off but not the jumper. Then they have to wear everything between lessons and at all other times.
They just started letting girls wear pants last year, by the way.

Ours is no blazer for the rest of the week & jumpers are not compulsory anyway.

The teachers do mot make the rules.
They are just the poor so and sos having to enforce them,

That's not a common stance
Usually no jumper/blazer, especially when temps high 20s+

I fail to see why teachers at their place of work should be subject to the same rules as the children. Once more; teachers do not make the rules about uniform or anything else. Im not saying that the rules are sensible, but as a teacher I do not expect to be obliged to follow school rules on dress, phones, jewellery, piercings etc.

That's equally stupid!!

What is it with these stupid rules about uniforms in hot weather?

at DD’s school the teachers have the authority to allow the students to remove blazers and jumpers during hot weather, and while most allow them to remove at least the blazer, some require them to keep everything on no matter how hot. DD says there are a couple that let the girls remove jumpers and blazers but seem to enjoy making the boys keep their jumpers and blazers on.

Are those professions’ holidays also unpaid?

I sent a message to my dds secondary yesterday as since last Friday they have been waiting until 1st lesson to tell children they don’t need to wear blazers and they then have to carry them around all day!
I asked as the weather isn’t cooling off anytime soon- could they not make the decision earlier or for the next few days- to save the hassle on the kids.

i think relaxing ties would be a good choice too.

Ours has a summer ‘no tie’ uniform, no blazer on hot days, tomorrow and Friday they can wear PE kits. Will be interesting to see if they actually stick to the proper PE kit.

This is yet another example of why school uniforms are bloody ridiculous. At least at primary there are alternatives that allow some acknowledgement of the weather. DD1 was a college in shorts and a t-shirt earlier this week, her sister on the same day had to wear black opaque tights, a black skirt, a shirt, tie, and black blazer. Very glad tomorrow is leavers day and she can learn how to dress for the weather. And never have to wear a tie ever again.

My dd's school moves to polo shirt and no tie after May half term (used to be all summer term so annoyingly only buying for 6 weeks use).

I think they should relax uniform policy full stop

Yes our school does

No, but if the children are expected to wear clothing that is inappropriate for the weather conditions and teachers police an unreasonable expectation, it is reasonable in my experience, that teaching staff should suffer the same level of discomfort as the children, particularly when the children are five years old.

Do you really not see the logic of the argument? If a school teacher would be uncomfortable, why should they expect the children to be. If they do, do you not see how respect is eroded?

The teachers, who have authority vested in their role, shoukd be setting excellent examples in relation to dress and behaviour in my opinion.

My personal view is that for anywhere that requires a uniform or gas a dress code there should be a proper risk assessment including hot/cold weather

Teachers don't make or have any influence over the uniform rules though - perhaps just the senior management team and governors.

It’s ridiculous but, unless the parents force the issue as a united front, nothing will change.

@RosesAndHellebores

Uniform is about discipline and respect though. Requiring blazers and jumpers to be worn unless permission is granted is about showing respect for adults in the school.

Discipline and respect is best maintained by setting clear, reasonable and rational rules that are consistently enforced.

It is actively undermined when rules are set that are irrational and unreasonable.

Requiring children to wear clothing that is actively unsuitable for the weather conditions (as opposed to just ‘not what they would prefer to wear’) falls into the latter category.

@cantkeepawayforever

No schools force DC to wear unsuitable clothing. Teachers can and do give permission to remove blazers in exceptionally warm weather.

There is no good reason why there should not be a whole school directive that blazers are not needed at all in hot weather - removing any need for individual teachers to be involved at all.

As I have said, DC’s school had a polo shirt summer uniform, and regularly issued whole-school no-blazer days / weeks / longer depending on weather.

Our school has a summer uniform, golfers and shorts and caps. Blazers are only for assembly and that’s an hour twice a week. That’s it. We also have air conditioning in classes. It’s ridiculous expecting kids to be using blazers and jumpers !