A mother has criticised her child’s school’s ‘archaic’ uniform rules which require students to wear woolly jumpers in the sweltering hot summer sun.
In a letter sent to parents last week, Mossley Hollins High School staff said pupils may remove their blazers during lessons, however the top buttons on shirts ‘must remain fastened’ and ‘ties and sleeveless jumpers must be worn at all times’.
The school, in Tameside, Greater Manchester, has since said students can remove their jumpers during class but still have to wear them when walking around.
Parents said while the school states ‘there is no requirement for students to wear blazers during the summer months’, this ‘hasn’t been communicated’ and they are still being asked to wear them outside the classroom.
The mother of a Year 10 student at Mossley Hollins High has called the rules ‘archaic’.
She said it is ‘crazy’ that pupils have to wear the tank top, blazer and pants around the school premises at all times.
‘The tank tops are too hot, there is no air flowing through them, making their core body hot,’ she told Manchester Evening News, adding: ‘I just want to know why tank tops, made of such warm material, are needed at all in the summer months.’
In an email to the school, the mother-of-two asked why they must wear a ‘woolly tank top’ in ‘extreme heat’.
She highlighted school’s in other parts of the country and abroad ‘have the comfort of the children as a top priority, not how smart they look’, adding a tie and buttoned up shirt still looks ‘very smart’.
Rounding off her complaint, the parent said: ‘I can’t for the life of me understand why you insist on making them hotter in those jumper tank tops. I see it as extreme control with absolutely no logic.’
In response, the high school said their uniform policy is ‘carefully considered with the aim of fostering a sense of unity, discipline, and professionalism among students’.
It added results from past student and parent surveys showed there was a ‘preference to keep the tank top’.
However, the response also acknowledged the school does not ‘wish for any student to be uncomfortable during warmer weather’ and prioritises ‘student well-being and comfort’.
The email listed off measures they already take during the warmer weather, including permission for jackets and tank tops to be removed in lessons, blinds being closed and windows being opened in classes and shared areas.
It added they are ‘currently reviewing this aspect of the uniform, particularly the tank top’ to figure out if a more suitable material could be used for them but said it will ‘take some time’ whilst they speak to suppliers.
The mother was not satisfied with the reply and maintains the tank top enforcement ‘goes beyond the measures for discipline’.
She replied to them saying she would be ‘happy’ if children could also get permission to remove their tank tops outside of lessons when they are more likely to be ‘directly in warm weather’.
Continuing her response she mentioned how staff are surely permitted to ‘adapt work clothing logically for smartness and also comfort’ and believes the students ‘deserve the same respect’.
She added: ‘It would be interesting to see how many parents would like to see a summer adaptation of the uniforms being considered.’
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, she said: ‘They’ve said to the pupils that they do it for smartness and they want to make sure shirts are tucked in and the tank top helps. Well it doesn’t because every time I see the kids coming out of school they have their shirts hanging out of their tank tops.
‘As far as I’m concerned it’s just indoctrination and is making them uncomfortable for aesthetics sake.’
Andrea Din, headteacher at Mossley Hollins, said: ‘The wellbeing of our students is our absolute priority. We encourage our students to take pride in their uniform, and we receive many positive comments from the local community about how smart our students are.
‘During spells of warmer weather, we take sensible steps to keep students comfortable, including reviewing uniform expectations and making sensible adjustments. There is no requirement for students to wear the school blazer during the summer months.
‘Students are encouraged to remove their tank tops in classrooms, should they prefer, during warmer periods. We also encourage students to spend their social time in the shade and drink plenty of water.
‘We always welcome working directly with parents and carers, and would encourage anyone with concerns or questions to speak to us so we can address them promptly and constructively.’