Students fainted in class at Ashcroft Technology Academy after the school kept them in full uniform on the hottest day in years, three days after the government told schools to let pupils take their blazers off.
Ashcroft’s classrooms have no air conditioning, along with many other schools, but while most have taken extraordinary measures this week including closing at lunchtime, adjusting uniform requirements to allow for lighter clothing and moving pupils into cooler rooms, Ashcroft has persistent with the same rules.
One reader told Putney.news the school had insisted on full uniform since the start of the heatwave, including on Tuesday 24 June when Putney hit 36°C, the first day of London’s Red Extreme Heat Alert. Government guidance published on 22 June had told schools to relax uniform rules in extreme heat, encourage pupils to remove blazers and jumpers, and consider letting them wear loose, light-coloured clothing instead.
Another reader – a parent with a child at the school who asked to remain anonymous – who is a public health academic told us that she had discussed her concerns with colleagues and concluded:
“Our professional opinion is that this behaviour is highly irresponsible and a risk to life.”
The school’s published policies show a consistent pattern. The attendance guide tells parents to “send your child in to school even when they appear unwell, unless the illness is more serious.” The behaviour policy states that if a student is sent home for wearing incorrect uniform, the time away “will be made up in detentions after Academy.” Many parents find the discipline effective; others say it leaves little room for common sense.
While Ashcroft held the line, schools across the country told pupils to wear PE kit. Some closed entirely. The Cabinet Office held an emergency COBR meeting on Tuesday over the severity of the heatwave. The Red Alert (the Met Office’s most serious warning, reserved for conditions that pose significant health risk to the wider population) was in force from Tuesday until at least Thursday night.
Putney reached 36°C on Tuesday, feeling closer to 38°C in the humidity.
Ashcroft Technology Academy, which has 1,511 pupils, has yet to respond to questions we sent over the reports and its policies. We asked whether full uniform was required on Tuesday, whether any students fainted or required medical attention, what the school’s policy is during Red Alerts, and whether that policy has changed for the rest of the week.
If you were affected, contact us at news@putney.news.
