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Secondary education

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Original poster

What is the issue with the coats?

179 replies

Leffeandolives · 23/01/2023 21:37

I have heard to be prepared for my DC not to wear her coat from next year that she will go to a secondary school. At the moment she does, so I don't understand what would change next year!

Is it true? Do secondary schools advise kids not to wear coats in winter?

If there are no lockers are there no pegs too?

Could they not place them at the back of their chairs as we do at work?

Apologies but I am not originally from the UK, have not attended a British school and I don't know how it works.

When I went at school, we had pegs in each classroom or put them at the back of our chairs (most of the times). And we always wore them during the breaks that we had to be outside at the playground. Actually we could wear them whenever we wanted to wear them!

Help please!

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 23/01/2023 21:38

Teenagers don't wear coats. They're immune to weather.

MyBloodyMaryneedsmoreTabasco · 23/01/2023 21:39

Coats are not cool. Loads of things will cease to be cool once they get to secondary age.

davegrohll · 23/01/2023 21:39

Yep, they don't do coats. I remember it myself for some reason, wouldn't of been seen dead in a coat 🤷🏼‍♀️

Invisimamma · 23/01/2023 21:39

I have no idea what this is about but we live in Scotland, it's been -4 some mornings and my 12yr old son will not wear a coat.

I don't get it. Not cool to wear a coat. He has a really nice North Face one too, which I'm told all the kids want one..

Guavafish1 · 23/01/2023 21:40

Teenagers thrive in the cold... hence no coats rule

Hooveslikejagger · 23/01/2023 21:41

They generally have lockers, but for some reason senior school kids don’t seem to feel the cold, even today at -9° 🥶.

PerilousErection · 23/01/2023 21:41

Lockers are usually miles away, and ours cost £20 a year and fit one small bag. And they aren't allowed to put them on the back of chairs.

That's without the weather/waterproofing that naturally occurs to every child between end of year 6 and October half term in year 7.

Fallin · 23/01/2023 21:41

They are not allowed to wear or carry there coats there is no lockers so coats have to be in there bags along with cooking / PE equipment. This makes for quite a bag that needs to be carried and I don't think the teens can be bothered - I wouldn't. Sad really secondary schools in the UK are awful. Toilets locked except for break times when 800 other kids need to use them.

DarkDarkNight · 23/01/2023 21:42

It’s uncomfortable to wear a coat over a blazer, you might have to size up. I would hate to arrive at school wet though and remain uncomfortable all day.

RagzRebooted · 23/01/2023 21:43

DD has 3 coats in her locker. She wears them to school perfectly fine, something happens once the coats reach school that apparently renders them unwearable and they never return... Possibly there is no locker and it's just a vortex full of coats.

sunshineandshowers40 · 23/01/2023 21:47

Mine have coats but don't wear them, middle DC always wore one at primary school. It's freezing at the moment but I can count the number of teens I see wearing a coat to school. 🤷🏽‍♀️

ThrowawaySecondarySchool · 23/01/2023 21:47

The kids at our school wear coats! They go on the back of chairs or on the floor with the bags during lessons. Science and DT have spaces for bags and coats in the classroom.

watcherintherye · 23/01/2023 21:47

Teenagers seem to turn against any protective outerwear at some point after starting secondary school. It’s never cold or wet enough for a coat!

Original poster
Leffeandolives · 23/01/2023 21:48

Omg, this is absolutely crazy! Was it like that forever when you were kids too or is this a modern thing?

This has to do with their health & safety though, their teachers should make them wear coats!

I mean imagine if they decide to turn up to school without shoes one day, just because it's cool. It's nonsense....

And they are still kids, not adults. Surely parents should be more strict? No? What do you think?

OP posts:
woohooho · 23/01/2023 21:49

Mine are definitely wearing coats at the moment!

EndoSufferer · 23/01/2023 21:49

Both my sons wore coats as did at least half the school. The other half walked in pouring rain with no coats. Those children were told off by school for being idiots, there is nothing grown up or cool about not wearing a coat. There was no sympathy for those inappropriately dressed for the weather when their hands were too cold to write in class and they couldn't hold a pen properly.

Far more coat wearing took place when covid meant classroom windows were open all day. It sort of stuck after that.

Original poster
Leffeandolives · 23/01/2023 21:49

If they catch a cold, a virus, flu, STREP A whatever because their immune system is not at it's best, as it would have to deal with the cold, then whose fault that would be?

OP posts:
MushMonster · 23/01/2023 21:49

I think it is the blazer. School insists that they wear a blazer all year around and the combo blazer + coat is not cool (or comfortable)
Nevermind the weather, cold or rain, they seem to not feel a thing anyway!
The idea of putting a coat over the blazer or to carry the blazer inside their bag till they reach school is too complex for a teenager. And if they have PE kit to carry and ingredients for cooking, arts and crafts or packed lunch, then forget about it!

noblegiraffe · 23/01/2023 21:50

North face jackets, they wear. Illicit hoodies, they wear.

A few more have reluctantly started wearing coats to school now that it's properly freezing.

HelenHywater · 23/01/2023 21:50

My 14 yo ds will not wear a coat. He wears a hoodie in all weathers. I went in for a parents' evening last week and none of them were wearing coats! I don't think it's anything to do with lockers. They just won't wear coats.

HelpMeGetThrough · 23/01/2023 21:50

This has to do with their health & safety though, their teachers should make them wear coats!

The teachers won't be doing that, it's not the teachers problem if they decide not to wear a coat and are then cold.

The most they ensure is the correct uniform is worn.

Original poster
Leffeandolives · 23/01/2023 21:51

My husband goes to work with blazer and coat in this weather , and most other men too.

OP posts:
Forever42 · 23/01/2023 21:51

Must depend on the school. My DD wears a coat and about 90% of kids I see at drop-off are wearing them.

KittyCatChat · 23/01/2023 21:52

My eldest didn't and still won't wear a coat. The younger one always wore a coat.

Hellocatshome · 23/01/2023 21:52

Leffeandolives · 23/01/2023 21:49

If they catch a cold, a virus, flu, STREP A whatever because their immune system is not at it's best, as it would have to deal with the cold, then whose fault that would be?

Theirs for not wearing a coat. If you provide one and they dont wear it in order to be 'cool then they can live with the consequences. Schools aren't banning them (in post cases), teens are deciding not to wear them.

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