A BASINGSTOKE school has come under fire after a pupil was prevented from wearing shorts on the hottest day of the year.

Mother-of-three Kim Bray sent her 15-year-old son, Tom, to his school – Aldworth School in South Ham – with shorts that she had made from a pair of his school trousers last Wednesday, when temperatures hit 32 degrees Celsius.

But just two hours later, Mrs Bray said she was called up by staff at the school in Western Way and asked to bring in a pair of school trousers for her son.

When she told them that his other pair of trousers were in the wash, she claims he was sent home.

Aldworth School’s uniform policy says that pupils must wear plain black trousers and a plain white short or long sleeved shirt and pupils are able to wear a navy blue polo shirt with the school logo on in the summer.

However, the policy makes no reference to smart shorts during the summer months.

 

Mother-of-three Mrs Bray, of Mayfield Ridge, Hatch Warren told The Gazette: “I was told to come and get my son because I made them (trousers) into shorts, but they are proper school trousers.

“I don’t think it is fair for boys to be wearing thick, nylon trousers in really hot circumstances. It is not affecting his education. In the school policy, it says nothing about wearing shorts but it says about girls not wearing short skirts and all the girls have short, tight skirts.”

The 44-year-old added: “The school had gone round putting things in place saying that they have to keep cool, drink plenty of water and they are making them wear long trousers.

“They said I am breaking school rules saying they are not allowed to wear shorts but it doesn’t state shorts (in the policy). I don’t think it is right to be wearing trousers.”

But the headteacher of Aldworth School, Denis McCabe, defended the school, telling The Gazette that staff had followed guidance received from Hampshire County Council.

He added: “We recently introduced a summer uniform which gives students the opportunity to wear a school polo shirt instead of a shirt and tie.

“One male student, out of a school population of 950, came into school with trousers that had been cut into shorts. He had been isolated with a senior member of staff and his parent contacted and asked if another pair of trousers could be bought into school for him.

“The parent decided to take him home as she felt it was too hot for him.”

He added: “We take the health and safety of our students very seriously and I am glad to report that all of the students who attended the school, on the hottest day of the year so far, were able to do so without overheating and were able to complete a normal day of education.”