What is the purpose of this school rule?

[NewFriday]

14yo girl generally well behaved and achieveling well at school, but autistic and finds the unexpected difficult to deal with. Has an EHCP.

She has an ankle injury and agreement that ftb she won't do PE.

She's turned up to her PE lesson in full and correct school uniform but she should have been in PE kit. Teacher has given her a detention for this breech, leading to great upset and a very difficult day for all concerned.

I'm generally very much in favour of supporting the school and it's rules, but I'm struggling to with this one. Why would a school issue a detention in this circumstance? I.e give me the justification so I can support it. Ordinary state comp in an area with lots of social problems, if that makes a difference.

Yanbu. My DD is the same although school have thankfully currently given up trying to take her kit in. She's self harmed and had a dreadful time with school refusal so they seem to have accepted its better she is in school than battling over PE.

Same rule at my DD's school, have to change into PE kit whether they are participating or not.

My kids have never had to change into pe kit when off PE. That’s ridiculous, what do schools think they’re achieving with this, it just makes a mockery of rules that actually matter. Is it written in the school rules?

Thank goodness DD's school, which has very good behaviour, doesn't have rules for the sake of rules. And in any case the first time would be treated as a mistake and the school's expectations explained.

Regularly 'forgetting' PE kit would probably result in a detention and parental involvement.

I expect if there are parents regularly excusing their child for minor ailments then they would want to discuss that with the parents.

Happily the school addresses issues as and when they arise, rather than setting draconian rules and punishments for everyone to cater for the exceptions.

The 'many reasons' for the rule don't seem that reasonable to me.

And PE is focussed on improving fitness, they do a fitness test each term and are encouraged to try and achieve a personal best rather than compete against each other. It is lovely to see PE achievement awards go to un-sporty pupils for improving their fitness as well as sporty ones for expertise in particular sports.

If a pupil regularly forgets their PE kit then that needs to be addressed, a detention may be appropriate, escalated to involving parents if it continues.

If a pupil is off PE for an extended period for health reasons then of course it would be worth discussing with the pupil and parents whether they could be partially attend/be involved as a referee/whatever, and if so whether they should change into PE kit.

A pupil claiming exemption from PE on health grounds would need their parent to notify the school that they cannot take part in PE. If the parent regularly exempts their child from PE then that would need to be supported by a doctor's letter.

A child not taking part in PE 'slipping away' from a PE lesson is no different from a child 'slipping away' from other parts of the school day - and therefore would be covered by standard protective measures.

To change into PE kit when not taking part in PE is pointless. To have to have full PE kit when it has been agreed that they don't even need to change into PE kit, as a PP has posted, is just a power trip.