Boy wears skirt to highschool in protest after academics ban shorts in heatwave

A boy wore a skirt to school after teachers enforced a ‘no shorts’ rule despite the UK basking in a heatwave.

Student Bodhi, 13 at the time, wore the skirt to lessons in protest of Marple Hall School in Stockport and their uniform policy after a letter was sent home.

The letter sent to parents said that pupils ‘who wear the skirt uniform’ can choose to wear tights or ankle socks due to the heat in June last year.

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However, the letter made no adjustments to the boy’s uniform policy despite also facing sweltering conditions. Bodhi was also sent home on two occasions in a week for trying to alter his uniform to contend with the heat, MEN reported.

Taylor Gillon, 20, sister of 13-year-old student Bodhi, said at the time: “Bodhi went into school without his blazer last Monday and got sent home to put it back on and come back in.

“I had told him that morning that there would be no point in him taking it because it was hot and he won’t be wearing it. It was about 30C that day.

“On Wednesday, he went in wearing shorts because of the heat and got sent home to put his trousers on. Prior to that, there was an email saying that girls could come in with skirts without tights on and short socks, so we thought he would be fine with shorts.

“We were told that shorts weren’t part of the uniform and weren’t allowed. Bodhi thought it was really unfair, so asked my mum to order a skirt for him so he could still be in uniform and be cooler in the weather.”

On June 15, Bodhi attended class in the skirt and the family claim only one teacher queried this with him. Taylor said that Bodhi’s uniform change has also inspired fellow students to now consider wearing a skirt.

She said: “Whenever we spoke to the school about it, we were just told that shorts weren’t part of the uniform,

“Other schools have policies where you can wear shorts, it makes no sense.

“How are you going to concentrate when you’re sitting in a classroom sweating away? I just feel that it is one rule for one and one rule for another.”

A spokesperson for Marple Hall School told the M.E.N: “We do expect students to continue to wear uniform in line with our expectations, but in periods of hot weather the school ensures that steps are taken to support students and promote their welfare.

“This includes encouraging students to bring drinks bottles and ensuring they have access to water coolers, encouraging students to stay in shaded areas at break times and ventilating and shading classrooms and allowing students to attend school without their blazer.”

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