Parents have criticised a school for refusing to allow pupils to wear costs in what they describe as ‘freezing’ classrooms.
Mums and dads whose children attend Co-op Academy Manchester say the heating system is inadequate and leaving pupils too cold to concentrate on their learning.
One dad said that more than 40 parents have grouped together and are threatening to keep their kids off school next Tuesday in protest ‘if this issue is not resolved’.
“My daughter in Year 11 was forced to take off her coat before she even went into the building,” he said. “Their excuse is ‘get them ready for learning’, but this is an absolute disgrace putting our kids in discomfort instead of worrying about their safety against this coldness.”
Parents say their kids have been in ‘freezing’ classrooms at Co-op Academy Manchester
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The dad, who did not want to be identified, said it had been an issue at the Higher Blackley school even before the Christmas break, but is much worse now temperatures have dropped.
He said he’s made several complaints over the phone and been told ‘we will be in contact by tomorrow’, but has never received a reply.
And he’s angered that students ‘are being threatened’ with detention and isolation for keeping their coats on.
The school says there has been an issue with heating in one area of the school this week and students in ‘affected classrooms’ have been allowed to wear extra layers, including coats. Temporary heaters have also been brought in.
A mum with children in Years 7 and 9 at the school said her daughters have come home complaining of ‘freezing conditions’ in classrooms as well as the canteens.
Parents say pupils have been threatened with detention and isolation for keeping their coats on
(Image: MEN MEDIA)
“It’s really hard seeing them come home and complain of the freezing conditions they tell me about,” she said. “Especially during lunch times, in the canteens, they are being shouted at to take their coats off, whilst all the staff have these big coats on, it’s not on.
“My daughter was in a freezing classroom and asked her teacher to increase the heating, they said it doesn’t work and told her they’re not allowed to wear a coat as rules are rules.”
The mum said she hadn’t made an official complaint as ‘I know from previous experiences that they just turn a cheek and pretend it never happened’.
A spokesperson for Co-op Academy Manchester said: “We are aware that the heating went down in one of our core subjects this week. During this period of particularly cold weather, we know that some schools have closed for similar issues. However, we were able to locate temporary heaters and students have been allowed to wear additional layers including coats in affected classrooms.
“We communicated these changes with students at the start of the day and in each lesson. To date we have not received any complaints from parents regarding this matter.”
Has your child had a similar issue at school? Are they allowed to keep their coat on if the classroom or canteen is cold? Let us know your views in the comments.