A map displaying weather alerts with regions marked in yellow, red, and amber, indicating areas of thunderstorm and extreme heat warnings. (Image: undefined)
Furious parents have condemned a Liverpool school after pupils were placed in isolation for wearing PE kits, as the nation endures a sweltering heatwave.
North Liverpool Academy in Anfield responded by stating the “health and safety of our students is our absolute priority” and confirmed it temporarily modified its uniform policy. However, it added a “small group of students chose not to comply with the temporary policy by arriving in full PE kits instead of the permitted reduced uniform”.
Several parents allowed their children to switch their usual collared shirts, blazers and trousers for school-issued PE kits yesterday on Wednesday as temperatures climbed.
But mere minutes after the school day started at 9am, they said they received calls from the school and were told their children had been placed in isolation.
Michael Smith, whose 14 year old son is a Year 9 pupil at the school, told the Liverpool Echo: “My son came home from school yesterday (Tuesday) all hot and bothered, and my wife had already decided to send him in his PE kit today. A couple of the kids must have spoken to their parents, and that led to about five or six of them coming in with their PE kits.”
“He was in for literally about five minutes. We had a call saying he’s come in his PE kit. I said I know, we let him. They said that’s not allowed, and he’s going to spend the rest of the day in isolation.”
Meanwhile, Michael, 39, from Norris Green, opted instead to collect his son from the school, along with several other parents whose children had similarly been placed in isolation.
He said: “The usual uniform is the regular shirt, tie, pants, shoes and blazer. Apparently the school has said they will loosen the restrictions and the students only have to wear the blazer going into school. So they have to stand in the heat as they’re going into school, then they’re allowed to take them off. They’ve also allowed them an extra bottle of water to keep cool.
“The kids are hot and sweating. Our first point was that there are schools closing early because of the heat. The uniform they say is to get them ready for working life. But even in work there’s a bit of leniency with workwear. My lad has always worn his uniform and done right by it.
“But with the weather reaching 35C (on Thursday), I think there has got to be a bit of lenience and understanding from the school, rather than just saying ‘these are the rules and you abide by them’.
“The school isn’t fully air conditioned. The new building is air conditioned, but my son doesn’t spend a lot of time in that part of the school. I understand rules are in place, but I think that an extra bottle of water being as far as they’re willing to go to make the kids more comfortable is a bit of a joke.”
It is understood the school has opted to shut its doors since yesterday as temperatures are forecast to hit 30C in Liverpool. Another father, Mark Hodgson, revealed that both of his sons were put in isolation for wearing their PE kits, despite one of them being sent home after falling ill due to the sweltering heat.
He said: “(On Tuesday) my son was sent home after being physically sick in the classroom due to the heat. North Liverpool Academy is like a glasshouse. When I speak to the kids they say it’s warm, it’s uncomfortable, they’re sweaty. There are plenty of schools in the area that have allowed PE kits because the uniforms aren’t breathable, especially the boys in their trousers.
North Liverpool Academy, Everton.North Liverpool Academy, Everton. (Image: Liverpool Echo)
“Some schools are closing tomorrow, other schools are doing half days. So other schools are taking action. NLA is practically a human greenhouse. There’s no air conditioning in parts of the school, it’s only the new building that has it. They have fans, but they’re not always turned on. One of the kids said the teacher had the fan on her, but not on the rest of the room.
“They’re being told to come to school in their blazers and we just don’t see the point. It’s like the school is waiting for something to happen before they react.”
He stated that he had raised his concerns directly with the school, and drew attention to the Department of Education’s hot weather and heatwaves guidance, which states: “School leaders should make sure they take any steps necessary to make sure children are safe and comfortable, and the heat-health alerts can guide this.
“Schools could consider relaxing uniform rules during hot weather to make sure pupils are comfortable. Children should wear loose, light-coloured clothing to help keep cool and sunhats with wide brims. When outdoors, encourage children to stay in the shade as much as possible.
“Sunscreen with high sun protection factors should be used to protect skin. Teachers should also encourage children to take off their blazers and jumpers.”
Mark, 39, from Anfield, said: “The government guideline is for the school to use a sensible approach to uniforms, such as allowing shorts or PE kits during heatwaves. They can introduce these exceptions.
“The whole of the nation seems to be allowing their children to wear their PE kits. This heatwave isn’t going to last, they’ll go back to wearing their uniforms. But while they’re in this environment in a classroom with 30 bodies, opening the window isn’t going to do much because there’s no cool air outside with no breeze.
“This feels like they’re making an example of pupils rather than supporting them. Why isn’t our school reacting when it’s literally full of glass windows? It’s not prepared to deal with the heat, and tomorrow it’s only going to get worse.”
In response, a Northern Schools Academy spokesman told the Echo: “The health and safety of our students is our absolute priority. In response to the extreme weather, North Liverpool Academy proactively implemented a temporary reduced uniform policy, which was clearly communicated to all parents and carers on Sunday evening and followed by the vast majority of our students.
“Allegations regarding a lack of support or adaptations are inaccurate. The school introduced numerous comfort measures, including adjustments to the timetable and class allocation, making additional water available throughout the day, allowing personal fans, and, as mentioned before, a reduced uniform policy.
“While uniform rules were relaxed, students were still expected to follow the temporary guidelines in place this week. A small group of students chose not to comply with the temporary policy by arriving in full PE kits instead of the permitted reduced uniform.
“These pupils were temporarily separated from the main student body in our fully air-conditioned room until the correct uniform could be provided. Any student collections were entirely a parental choice. Following a further assessment of the extreme heat today, the senior leadership team has made the decision to close the school to students today to ensure the ongoing welfare of our school community.”