Row over ‘cool’ school shorts

AN angry mother has taken her two sons out of school after they were forbidden from wearing shorts to lessons as Cardiff swelters in 29°C heat.

With the sizzling weather forecast to stay for the rest of the week St Illtyd’s Catholic High School in Cardiff said it has eased uniform rules following complaints about the heat from parents.

But despite temperatures hitting 29.4°C in Cardiff yesterday, boys are still obliged to wear trousers.

Mother of two Carrieann Stead said that allowing pupils to attend without their blazers and letting them take off their ties during lunch and breaktimes did not go far enough.

She said she is not sending sons. Codie James, 15, and Lucas James, 12, back to school until the weather cools down, unless they can wear shorts rather than the regulation trousers.

Carrieann said it was a potential health hazard to let children overheat.

“I sent them to school in smart black shorts because it is so hot,” the carer said.

“The school told me they would have to be taught in isolation because they were wearing shorts so I went to the school and picked them up.

“It is absolutely ridiculous to wear black trousers in this weather.

“They can’t concentrate on learning in this sweltering heat if they are wearing trousers. What difference does it make what they wear as long as they are learning?

“Schools need to update their uniform policies for this weather. It’s hard to learn when you are uncomfortable. Last year my older son got heat rash from wearing trousers to school in the very hot weather.

“They girls are in skirts and allowed bare legs. How can they expect the boys to concentrate?”

The school said in a statement: “We have received a number of requests from pupils and parents as to whether boys will be able to wear black tailored shorts during this spell of warm weather.

“Pupils have been told that they do not need to wear their school blazer at this time and that they can take off their ties at break and lunch time. We are also reminding them to stay hydrated and drink as much water as possible throughout the day.

“At present the school uniform policy does not cover the wearing of shorts. It is something that we are looking at but in the meantime, pupils are expected to attend school according to the current policy, which for boys means trousers.

“We will keep all interested parties informed if this policy changes.”

A spokesperson for Cardiff council said: “Uniform policies are individually set and implemented by each school.”

Meanwhile, Wales was officially the hottest part of the UK yesterday as temperatures soared higher than 30°C. The mercury hit 30.6°C in Porthmadog, Gwynedd, making it hottest recorded temperature in the UK.

The scorching temperature makes it the UK’s and Wales’ hottest day of the year so far, the Met Office said. The hot weather is predicted to continue throughout the week, with temperatures forecast to go even higher.

Temperatures are set to rise with a possible high of 33°C on Thursday, meteorologist Alex Burkill said, soaring above the UK average for this time of year of 17.3°C. The hot weather looks set to continue into next month, he added.

“At the moment it looks like that will be the general theme through much of July,” he said.

“Generally it looks like it will stay drier and warmer than average.”

The new record beat Monday’s previous high of 30.1°C recorded in London.