School feels heat over pupils’ blazer request
PARENTS SAY CHILDREN DENIED PERMISSION TO TAKE THEM OFF ON HOT DAYS
SOME parents whose children attend Redhill Academy in Arnold say there have been cases where their children have been made to wear blazers in scorching temperatures.
A parent posted on the Arnold Community Group Facebook page to say their child who attends the school told her they have been made to sit in class wearing a blazer in hot weather, that requests to get water were denied, and when a fellow student offered some water of theirs, the student was reprimanded and sent to another class.
Tens of parents have since commented on the post saying their child experienced similar problems. A small number of parents did comment to say their child was allowed to take off their blazer when asking a teacher for permission to do so.
The parents who say their children have been affected are calling on students to be allowed to take off their blazers when it’s hot, and questioning if blazers are necessary as part of the school uniform at all.
The creator of the Facebook post, Lisa Jeffery, 55, who is the guardian of a Year Nine pupil, says some cases are “absolutely shocking”.
Speaking to the Post, Lisa, who is a retired foster carer living in Arnold, said: “From what I can gather, Redhill tends to be more strict on uniform, and some parents are with me in finding the rules ridiculous and unreasonable. My child has said there have been a number of cases where children have asked teachers to take their blazer off and have not been allowed to, and other parents
When that many parents have come forward, the children can’t all be telling tales. Lisa Jeffery
have been saying similar things.
“I feel as though appearance is more concerned about than wellbeing, I do not feel as though a blazer is a necessary part of the uniform. Every child should have a uniform, as it eliminates who has got what, but if you’re in class and working, that should be taken into account.
“I understand children can sometimes bend things to suit a narrative, and some things you take with a pinch of salt, but when that many parents have come forward, the children can’t all be telling tales to that degree. I’ve been a foster carer for many years, and if I made a child keep a jumper on for example, I’d be in big trouble.”
Another mother says her son has come home saying how hot he has been wearing the blazer, and she subsequently gave him a note to explain why he wouldn’t be wearing his blazer this week.
But she says her Year Seven student has told her he is allowed to take it off when in class.
Katie Barwick, 38, a children’s nurse who works at the Queen’s Medical Centre, from Arnold, said: “My son’s not really a complainer, but even he said to me he’s been really hot wearing his blazer outside.
“He has said he’s been allowed to take it off in class, but has to wear it in between classes.
“As a children’s nurse, it worries me that kids compensate far more than adults do, and they wouldn’t say they are struggling until they feel sick.
“I don’t see why a blazer must be worn at all times, as the uniform has an emblem on the trousers and there is a tie, it just seems a bit bizarre.
“If my kid has done anything wrong, they have to deal with the consequences, but I don’t feel this is one of those times. For me, there is no academic benefit to it, it makes no sense.”