My daughter, 12, was given detention for not wearing a JUMPER under her blazer in heatwave – kids’ lives were at risk
A COUPLE are furious after their daughter was slapped with a school detention for not wearing the correct uniform on a scorching 28C day.
Ruby Reid said she was scolded at Rivers Academy West London for not wearing a jumper underneath her blazer and was ordered to stay behind during breaktime on the hottest day of the year.
The pupil’s parents say they are furious with the school’s treatment of their daughter, and even claimed the rules became more severe during the day.
Stepdad David, 39, said: “Ruby was really upset – she’s only young and doesn’t have much of a voice, so she just had to go with it.
“It was 28 degrees on Thursday morning and got even higher throughout the day as well.
“It would have been incredibly easy for someone to pass out in that temperature – or even lose their life if they got too dehydrated.
“I couldn’t believe it – I phoned up the school when she got home and was told it’s the ‘head’s policy’ and they needed to enforce it.
“The next day they weren’t threatening breaktime detentions, but full 90 minute detentions instead – and the head was stood at the gates enforcing it himself.
“I can’t see any logic in it, but hearing from other parents, apparently this school has a history of this.
“It’s just completely inappropriate.”
The school claims the rules were relaxed later that morning – but Ruby says that she and pals were still detained at breaktime on September 7.
The next day, headmaster Luke Homer reportedly told Ruby that she would receive a 90-minute detention if she failed to wear her blazer and jumper again – a claim the school have denied.
David now intends to lodge an official complaint against the academy.
He said: “I don’t know what the reason is – I don’t know if the rule is intended to cause harm.
“But in severe cases it could even have led to lives lost.
“There are many good things about this school, but the uniform policy isn’t one of them.”
Carrie-Anne said: “I felt angry, shocked and disgusted when I heard about it.
“The school know these children are young and vulnerable, my daughter was essentially punished just for not wanting to put her jumper on.
“It’s beyond belief, it feels draconian.
“It’s not an isolated incident and it’s strange nothing is being done – if we have to be that voice to speak up for change then we will be.”
It would have been incredibly easy for someone to pass out in that temperature – or even lose their life if they got too dehydrated.
David, Ruby's stepdad
A spokesperson for Rivers Academy said: “At Rivers Academy we believe that our Academy uniform provides a sense of belonging and self-worth, which are central to our guiding principles.
“Our students take pride in their appearance and we hope that by instilling these values, we are preparing them for the professional expectations of the world of work.
“We asked students to arrive in full uniform on the day in question but by 10am, in accordance with our protocol, we’d informed them that the Academy had moved to a ‘no jumper day.’
“This meant that all pupils could remove jumpers and blazers in the classroom so as to be able to learn comfortably in the unseasonable heat.
“No students were told on either day by the Principal or any other member of staff that they’d have to wear jumpers and blazers all day and there is no 90 minute sanction for uniform infringements.
“Our guidelines apply to staff who lead by example. Staff members were also invited to remove jackets from 10am.
“It is possible that visitors to the school after that time would encounter staff without jackets.
“Uniform is a key discipline. Our policy and our expectations are clearly set out for all pupils joining the Academy.
“In instances where uniform requirements are breached we are able to lend brand new or freshly laundered items which will allow students to attend lessons.”