Jubilant mum wins battle with son's school to let kids wear their PE kits to class during heatwave
A MUM who launched a petition calling on her son's school to relax uniform rules during this week's heatwave is celebrating after it said kids can wear their PE kits to class.
Polly Powell launched the campaign after her son was threatened with detention for going to school wearing "smart shorts" rather than regulation trousers on Monday, as pupils sweltered in 30C heat.
The petition was signed by more than 350 angry parents who are now celebrating after Ysgol Dyffryn Aman school in Carmarthenshire, Wales, allowed kids to wear shorts and T-shirts to class.
Polly, 39, launched the petition due to concerns her son, Jack Pullan, 13, would be too hot to focus on his end of year exams - which will determine what classes he is in for his GCSE studies.
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She said: "I told him to wear shorts to school. I know you are not allowed, but it was ridiculous.
"He has fair skin and does not do well in sun - they were smart shorts."
The mum of two said the school called her home on Monday and demanded someone bring in trousers for Jack - but no one was available to.
She said that Jack was warned he would receive a detention if he did not wear trousers on Tuesday.
Polly said: "Even the girls are not allowed to wear skirts with socks - they have to wear tights - so they all wear trousers and they have to wear ties.
"My son has end of year exams to determine what classes he goes into for GCSE and I thought, 'He's not going to be able to concentrate'."
Polly added: "There were comments from older children sitting GCSEs saying how boiling it was. Sweat dripping down their backs so they can't concentrate.
"That's not a nice environment to be sitting exams in."
On Tuesday afternoon Polly spoke to the school's headteacher who said students would be allowed to wear their PE kits to school until temperatures drop.
A jubilant Polly said: "It shows if you stand up for what you believe, you can make change and be heard."
Headteacher Nerys Nicholas said she was aware of the petition, but that the decision had been made in the best interests of the pupils in "extreme circumstances".
She said: "They have internal exams today so we are also providing sun cream and hats and have water stations in school. We are just trying to look after them for their wellbeing."
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