A mother has criticised Co-op Academy Manchester in Blackley for enforcing a mandatory tights policy during a heatwave, which led to her 15-year-old daughter being sent home and missing a French mock exam. The girl arrived at school wearing a skirt and ankle socks with shorts underneath, but was told tights were required. Instead of relaxing the rule to allow socks, the school advised girls to wear trousers.
School's warm weather policy
In a 'warm weather update' on its website, the school stated: 'Due to the heatwave, we are making changes to the uniform this week. Students do not need to wear their blazers or ties to the academy for the remainder of the week. Students who normally wear skirts and tights are encouraged to wear school trousers, if they have them.' The mum noted that other Co-op academies allowed PE kits, but her daughter's school refused, citing policy and smartness.
Parent's frustration and safety concerns
The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed frustration that her daughter travels over an hour and a half from Oldham to school. She said: 'She was in school for no longer than 15 minutes so she missed her French mock exam. Other Co-op academies are allowing PE kits, but when I asked why they aren’t, they said because it’s policy and it’s not smart.' She added that the incident was worsened by the school's eagerness to have pupils return after an alleged knife attack earlier this month, in which two students and a teacher were injured. 'They wanted them back in the next day, acting like nothing had happened, but now they're sending them home over not wearing a pair of tights.'
Mother's decision to limit daughter's attendance
The 34-year-old mother said she has arranged for her daughter to attend only for exams and leave immediately after. 'She's got her food exam today but she’s got my permission to come straight home after it. She’s going in her tights and just taking them off after the exam. I don’t think it’s safe for her to be there longer than an hour. She’s had heatstroke in the past so that’s what I’m trying to avoid.'
School's full uniform adjustments
The school's weather update also included allowing students to bring reusable water bottles and apply sunscreen. It stated: 'We will be monitoring the temperature in classrooms throughout the week to ensure that they remain as cool as possible. At social times all students have access to ventilated indoor spaces and shaded areas outside.' Uniform is expected to return to normal next week.
Upcoming uniform change across Co-op academies
Starting in September, all Co-op Academies Trust secondary schools will require girls to wear trousers instead of skirts, introducing a single uniform for all students. This affects six schools: Co-op Academy Walkden, Swinton, North Manchester, Manchester, Failsworth, and Belle Vue. Some parents have welcomed the move, while others oppose it as taking away daughters' rights.
School's response
A spokesperson for Co-op Academy Manchester said: 'We introduced temporary uniform adjustments this week in response to the high temperatures, including allowing pupils to attend without blazers, jumpers or ties. As part of this guidance, pupils who would normally wear a skirt and tights were encouraged to wear school trousers if they had them available, helping students stay comfortable during the exceptionally warm weather. Our priority is always to maintain a safe, consistent and purposeful learning environment while supporting pupil wellbeing. Uniform expectations are communicated clearly to families and, where questions or concerns arise, we work directly with parents and carers to provide support and find an appropriate solution.'
Related incident: knife attack
A 14-year-old girl has appeared in court following an alleged knife attack at the school on June 9. She has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of possessing a bladed article on school premises. She was remanded into custody and is due to attend a plea and trial preparation hearing at the Old Bailey on October 23.
