Parents at North Liverpool Academy in Merseyside have reported that their children were placed in isolation for wearing PE kits during extreme heat, as temperatures reached 28C on Wednesday, June 24. Several parents allowed their children to swap their standard collared shirts, blazers, and trousers for school-issued PE kits, but within minutes of the school day starting at 9am, they received calls informing them their children had been isolated.
School's Response and Temporary Policy
A Northern Schools Academy spokesperson stated that the health and safety of students is their absolute priority and that the school had temporarily reduced its uniform policy. However, they maintained that a small group of students chose not to comply by arriving in full PE kits instead of the permitted reduced uniform. The school introduced comfort measures including timetable adjustments, additional water, personal fans, and a reduced uniform policy.
Parental Concerns
Michael Smith, whose 14-year-old son is in Year 9, said his son came home hot and bothered on Tuesday, leading his wife to send him in his PE kit on Wednesday. He received a call saying his son was in isolation and decided to collect him. Smith criticized the school for not doing enough during the amber weather warning, noting that the usual uniform includes a blazer, and the school only allowed students to remove blazers after entering. He said the school is not fully air-conditioned, and an extra bottle of water was insufficient.
Another parent, Mark Hodgson, said both his sons were isolated despite one being sent home due to heat-related sickness on Tuesday. He described the school as a human greenhouse, with no air conditioning in parts and fans not always on. He cited Department of Education guidance that schools should relax uniform rules during hot weather and allow loose, light-colored clothing.
School Closure
Following further assessment of the extreme heat, the school decided to close on Thursday, June 25, as temperatures were predicted to reach 30C. The spokesperson said the closure was to ensure the ongoing welfare of the school community.
