Amid scorching temperatures and a national health alert, Bristol Free School has come under fire for enforcing its full school uniform policy, reportedly sending dozens of students home for arriving in their PE kits instead of standard attire.
As temperatures soared above 30°C on Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency issued an amber heat-health alert across southwest England. Despite the health warning, several parents claim their children were turned away at the school gate for not wearing the official uniform, which includes a pale blue shirt, tie, and charcoal trousers or skirt. Pupils who wore cooler PE kits — such as polo shirts and shorts — were not permitted to attend classes.
According to parents, classrooms were half-empty, and students were left distressed by what many described as an inflexible and outdated policy. One parent said the school’s approach lacked basic compassion.
“It’s ridiculous that in such extreme heat, the school couldn’t be flexible,” the parent told Bristol Live. “Kids were ready to learn, wearing weather-appropriate clothing, but instead they were turned away. Where’s the concern for their wellbeing?”
Some parents said this issue has been ongoing for years, with multiple attempts to revise the uniform policy met with resistance from school leadership. Students had even launched petitions, and parents had appealed to the governors for change. However, a policy review last year upheld the current dress code.
Criticism also extended to what some called the “inherent sexism” in the uniform policy. While girls have the option of wearing either skirts or trousers, boys are still required to wear trousers — even in extreme heat — with no allowance for shorts.
“There’s a real sense that the school cares more about appearances than about student health,” another parent said. “This heat makes it uncomfortable and even dangerous for students, especially boys who aren’t allowed to wear shorts.”
One mother shared that her teenage daughter came home upset and embarrassed after being made to wear her jumper all day in the heat. The next day, the mother let her wear her PE kit, only to have her sent home again. The school later marked the absence as unauthorised.
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“I watched her walk to school, dressed appropriately for the weather, only to be turned away at the gate. Then the school had the nerve to say I didn’t report her absence — she was there, they just refused to let her in,” she said.
According to the school’s official stance, uniform rules can be relaxed “from time to time, for example in particularly hot weather,” at the headteacher’s discretion. However, an email sent to parents on Friday made it clear that no changes were planned despite the amber-level heat warning.
Chair of Governors Anne-Marie Boyle had previously acknowledged at a parent meeting last July that exceptions — such as allowing PE kits during heatwaves — were possible but would require a decision from school leadership.
The recent email reiterated that while students are discouraged from wearing jumpers and coats, the uniform policy remains unchanged for now.
“We continue to monitor the weather and will notify families of any reasonable adjustments,” the school wrote. “Students should bring refillable water bottles, wear sunscreen, and are welcome to use shade areas or wear wide-brimmed hats during lunch.”
Bristol Free School has not yet issued an official statement in response to the public criticism.
