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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Not allowed blazer off at school- normal?

96 replies

BedBugs5 · 03/03/2024 15:25

The DC’s school has recently toughened its uniform policy and one rule in particular is causing controversy. The policy used to be that blazers had to be worn between lessons, but could be taken off in class with permission of the teacher. That seemed fair enough.

However, now the school has a “zero tolerance” policy whereby blazers have to be worn at all times on school premises, including in lessons. They can only be removed in class if the headteacher allows removal in exceptionally warm weather- DC aren’t allowed to ask permission.

The DC have complained about being warm. Is this policy normal for secondary schools and they just need to suck it up?

OP posts:
twoboyssolucky · 03/03/2024 15:29

The micro-management of our children and young people is on another level in schools 🙄
This and the other thread about the Y12 girl having blond highlights is very telling.
No wonder most kids are disengaged. These prison-like rules and the Victorian curriculum (plus all the other problems facing education today) is the perfect storm.

lalaloopyhead · 03/03/2024 15:35

Yes, this is the rule in my Dds school..has been for years. I've always thought it was a stupid rule, it's just not sensible to wear shirt, tie and blazer all the time in the middle of summer.
I am fairly sure that back in the days of wearing :office wear' to work that I would always take my blazer off and hang it on the back of my chair so not to crease it up when sitting down.

K0OLA1D · 03/03/2024 15:37

It's a stupid rule, but it is the same at my dc school. They're allowed to take off the jumper underneath and over the summer we had a text to say blazers could be left at home

BedBugs5 · 03/03/2024 15:38

@lalaloopyhead and @K0OLA1D

Interesting, thanks. Are your DC allowed to take them off in lessons?

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 03/03/2024 15:40

Normal (although I find it odd). They have to get permission by the class teacher to remove them and in hot weather the school brings in a shirt sleeves rule (which means blazers can be left at home).

Shangrilalala · 03/03/2024 15:41

DS’ school has only just relaxed the rule about having to wear blazer to/around school on the days when they have games and needed to wear it over full games kit/tracksuit. Thankfully gone.

queenofthewild · 03/03/2024 15:41

Normal.

Even in food tech lessons I mean, who cooks in a tailored jacket? No one.

IhateJan22 · 03/03/2024 15:50

I remember my school being like this, I hated wearing a blazer, they’re uncomfy, awful things

BedBugs5 · 03/03/2024 15:50

To those saying the rule is the norm- is it really normal that they aren’t allowed to take their blazers off at all (I.e they can’t even ask permission)?

OP posts:
PrincessOfPreschool · 03/03/2024 15:55

My kids go to 2 different state secondaries. In both they can remove blazers in lessons. One of them they can take them off without asking, I think the other school you need to ask the teacher. It seems such a silly rule, and not sure what it's achieving.

OverTheCountryClub · 03/03/2024 15:56

I'm a secondary teacher and it's absolutely bloody ridiculous. I even think it's stupid when pupils have to ask to remove their blazers. Why do teenagers need permission to regulate their temperature?? I don't ask the Head if I can take off my jacket!! It's nonsense. I'd definitely complain.

Clearinguptheclutter · 03/03/2024 15:58

Regardless of the rules I’m sure the teachers themselves are reasonable if asked. I think it’s reasonable to ask to take off, but not to be not allowed to ask!

schools needs to move with the times, they do know most workplaces are super casual these days?!

skyeisthelimit · 03/03/2024 16:01

DD's secondary is the same, ties and blazers to be worn at all times.

In extremely hot weather they will send out messages that blazers can be removed. We had about 3 weeks at the end of term last year where they were allowed to not wear them.

Precipice · 03/03/2024 16:02

Needing teachers' permission is ridiculous also. Why force teenagers to be overheated and uncomfortable? Uniform blazers, as most uniform, tend to be uncomfortable synthetics anyway.

I was always running warm. At school, I was almost all the time in short sleeves. If I wore a jumper inside, my classmates would tease, 'oh, it's really cold! Precipice is wearing a jumper!' I would have suffered terribly under such a rule.

howmanyshirts · 03/03/2024 16:07

Is it made of polyester? Or pure wool?

only reason I ask both my daughters had the stupid rule in a girls school in pure wool jackets in a heatwave / excessive temperatures over summer. They looked like they were overheating. I questioned lots of the staff and I told them it was ridiculous. However rules are rules it never dropped.

Whilst the teachers are in sleeveless cotton tops looking like cool cucumbers. Bonkers

one rule for one and all that

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 03/03/2024 16:08

We have two secondary schools in our town . One of the schools has this policy . When I heard tales of children sweltering in the heat because they weren't allowed to remove their blazers, I was pleased that DS school wasn't so strict. It was pretty sensible actually - sweaters with a school badge but you could buy the badge separately and sew/resew onto a plain sweater.

AnneElliott · 03/03/2024 16:29

That does sound mad. DSs school allows them to ask for permission or the teacher will say at the start of the lesson that they can remove them.

Although when I used to work in a court, we had to ask the judge before we could remove our jacket. I remember one colleague who asked for permission and was told 'Certainly not - you'll be asking to remove your trousers next'!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/03/2024 16:40

Ds had the same at middle school with school jumpers,even in 25 degree heat the teachers forgot to tell them they could remove them and they weren't allowed to ask. I can't imagine it was very pleasant for the teachers in a room full of stinky kids.

Ds gets heat related nosebleeds and after one too many iirc I went down to the school and tbh it was 15 years ago so can't remember exactly what was said but managed to get the stupid fucking rule reversed.

I have no idea why blazers are still worn,they're so impractical and expensive.

CheapThrillsMeanNothing · 03/03/2024 16:45

Clearinguptheclutter · 03/03/2024 15:58

Regardless of the rules I’m sure the teachers themselves are reasonable if asked. I think it’s reasonable to ask to take off, but not to be not allowed to ask!

schools needs to move with the times, they do know most workplaces are super casual these days?!

School seems to be like being in the army these days. I just don't 'get' the blazers to be worn at all times.
I can be difficult to concentrate when you're too hot and I am sure most schools don't have air conditioning.
Besides most offices now have a smart casual dress code. So it surprises me when some school 6th forms insist on office wear instead of smart casual. I suspect they are trying to be elitist.

amylou8 · 03/03/2024 16:48

One of the secondarys round here, they all wear sweatshirt, polo and combat type trousers with pockets. So much more practical than shirts, ties and blazers.

Multipleexclamationmarks · 03/03/2024 16:49

Normal at our school. Blazers on during lessons, breaks, all times. Not allowed to ask to remove them.

whatsinanameeh · 03/03/2024 17:07

Same at my son's school, can only remove them in
Heatwave weather (and don't ask because you get a consequence)

Can't even wear outside jacket once through the school door. Ans they have to be in the school bag-ds can't fit a winter coat, PE kit, books and lunch bag in his already large bag so goes without the coat.

Secondary schools really are ridiculous with the uniform rules, imagine not taking your blazer off at your desk ever.

QualityDog · 03/03/2024 17:10

The 'don't ask for permission' bit will be to stop students constantly asking.

At our secondary they have to have their blazers on between lessons to stop them leaving their blazers behind as it was becoming a lost property nightmare.

Taylormiffed · 03/03/2024 17:10

Pathetically normal I'm afraid. Another barrier to make school harder for children with SEN.

Most jobs would never dream of enforcing clothing like this. Everyone has a different body temperature and comfort zone.

TorroFerney · 03/03/2024 17:18

Yes same here. Used to be the same for me at court in the 90‘s wonder if it is now. The judge had to give permission to remove jackets (both sexes as we all wore suits) and also where I work now (financial services) before they relaxed the rules , there had to be a very hot day and permission before men could remove their ties.

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