Are your children allowed to wear coats outside?

[Frankinator]

Our local school has recently changed policy to not allow children to wear coats outside. I completely understand not allowing children to wear them inside, but cannot fathom what the problem is with wearing them outside, particularly in January when it's surely universally agreed that it's pretty cold. Is this common in schools?

Yes, the problem with the lockers is they are often a long way away from where they've just had a lesson (this is a big school so a large site).
The Michaela thing is really interesting. I suspect the headteacher has a lot of admiration for the way she runs her school so may have taken inspiration from her sadly

I would expect children to make their own decisions as to when to wear/not wear coats. If the school disagreed they would need to contact me with their rationale.

That's madness! I'd double check with the school and get it in writing as I can't believe a school would not allow costs outside!

If it's the case then I'd be speaking to the governors and would take it further.

What sort of safeguarding issues can you have regarding wearing a coat outside in winter??

I mean those chikdren are supposed to walk to school. Wearing a coat to do so isn’t unreasonable!

The coat thing is very strange, but I don't think having a low opinion of Gavin Williamson's intellect is particularly controversial.

I’d expect more from a HTbtocall anyone’s ‘cretin’.
It’s ableist to start with. But also insulting people has never been the hallmark of a great person. You might think he was abysmal but insulting g him ina profesional capacity wasn’t on.

The coat thing is very strange, but I don't think having a low opinion of Gavin Williamson's intellect is particularly controversial.

I agree. But I wouldn't write it in an article in a professional capacity.

Ha, I couldn't have a lower opinion of Gavin Williamson. But a) I'm not a headteacher expressing my opinion in a vehicle that's being read by students and parents, and b) as people have said, it's a dreadful word

I'd write a letter of complaint to the board of governors and the head x

Seeing as the OP clearly says that they do not understand the policy, a letter asking for an explanation of the school's rationale would be more sensible.

Depending on what that contains, then would be the point to consider whether a complaint in justified, which in a school is done by following the steps in the complaints policy in the order given.

I'd check the school website, including the uniform policy for any update that may explain the bizarre new rule (and screenshot if it's not mentioned) and then email the Head's PA explaining your DS has come home saying the uniform policy has been changed and would they please confirm it is a mistake.

My DCs' secondary school doesn't have lockers so there's nowhere for coats to go other than on the bodies of the students who wore their coat to school. Most of them walk to school so a coat is a sensible item to be wearing.

At my own school, we regularly have days when students are allowed to wear their coats in lessons because the building is so cold.

I expect there's been a misunderstanding.

Thanks @SE13Mummy, good suggestion to check the website. This has recently been updated to say that coats are allowed to be worn to and from school and at lunchtime, but not at breaks. As children are being told off / given detentions for wearing coats at lunchtime, I am going to write to them on Monday to ask a) the rationale as to why children aren't allowed to wear them at breaks, and b) if they can please confirm that wearing coats at lunchtime is still okay.

I really appreciate everyone's comments here, they've been super helpful.

This kind of stuff I don’t understand - deliberately putting kids in danger who walk or cycle home just for the sake of a school’s “smartness” vanity and not for any practical reason.

I've yet to find a teenager who will actually wear a coat but yes, it sounds bonkers.

Do they have to wear blazers?

OP def ask the school in a nice way for clarification.

I’m confused at the logic. Where are the coats supposed to go?
It’s January and can often be freezing or below plus wet. If they walk, then what are they supposed to do - put it in a locker, get freezing and wet every hour between lessons until it’s time to go home, then spend ages crossing back to wherever it’s been stored to pick up a coat at the end of the day? Not to mention those missing buses while arsing around collecting coats or looking for them.
What am I missing that makes this even half worthwhile? Also doesn’t it create a lost property mountain if they don’t just …. wear them?