My boy was put in detention for wearing shorts to school in the summer… now I’m taking them on
A BOY was put in detention for wearing shorts to school in the summer – but his mum is taking them on.
Toni Hurst raised the issue with staff at Hazel Grove High School in Stockport, Greater Manchester, when her son Tom Forster was put in detention for wearing shorts.
She said a member of staff told her over the phone that “boys are free to wear skirts instead of long trousers” and if the 13-year-old attended wearing shorts again, he would be put in isolation.
When she had a meeting in school the following day, she said staff elaborated, saying boys can wear skirts in certain circumstances, such as gender reassignment, and explained the reasons for not allowing shorts.
"They said they can wear their PE kits, which have shorts, once it's over 30 degrees, but there's no policy stating that," said Toni, from Hazel Grove.
She said: "And they said they can't monitor it, to make sure they have plain black shorts, but can monitor plain black trousers."
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Following the meeting, which eventually saw Tom given permission to wear shorts because his mum said he has eczema, Toni launched a petition for pupils across the whole of Stockport to have the option of wearing them in the summer months.
It comes after another boy from Stockport attended Marple Hall School wearing a skirt because of its “no shorts” rule.
In the petition, which has amassed 300+ signatures, mum-of-four Toni stated: "The decision to not allow shorts when temperatures have reached 30 degrees Celsius is madness.
“I believe it's really not in our children’s best interest to be overdressed, uncomfortable and overheated in school in the summer.
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"Wearing school shorts will not affect the children's ability to learn.
"This petition is for every child in a Stockport school (as teacher has told me it's across Stockport schools) regardless of gender, to have the option to wear shorts in the summer months."
A spokesperson for Hazel Grove High School said: "It is important that our students are comfortable to help them embrace all the learning opportunities that come their way at our school.
“That is why we take a sensible approach to uniform in hot weather conditions.
"On very warm days we let our students know that ties and blazers are not required.
“We also give students opportunities to stay out of the heat during the summer months, we encourage students to drink plenty of water and consider activity levels during PE lessons.
“In some rare cases, in relation to a medical need, then we may make slight adjustments to uniform on an individual basis.”
A couple of days ago a mum was left fuming after her son's school in Plymouth banned boys from wearing shorts.
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Elsewhere, parents say their boys were told to wear trousers to school in the summer sun - so they took matters into their own hands.
The youngsters were allegedly given warnings after they wore shorts to Farlingaye High School in Woodbridge, Suffolk.
