School bans students from wearing jumpers and parents whinge 'it makes no sense'
Parents are rallying against a school's decision to ban pupils from wearing jumpers until October – but the headteacher has hit back at those 'cherry-picking' which rules to follow.
Pupils at Winston Churchill School in Woking, Surrey, were told when they returned from the Easter break that they were no longer allowed to wear their school jumpers.
Children are being told to wear blazers 'every day, in every situation' – but parents have been sending angry emails with 'abusive language' and letting their children wear jumpers regardless.
The ban is in place until the end of October, but already a petition calling for the school jumper to be allowed year-round has received nearly 400 signatures.
Tish Akehurst, who started the petition, said: 'The jumper isn't just about warmth – it's about comfort, confidence, and school pride.
'With unpredictable weather, chilly mornings, and the importance of students feeling good in what they wear, banning the jumper doesn't make sense.
'We believe students should have the choice to wear the jumper all year round, as part of the official uniform.
'Let's keep our voices heard and bring some common sense back to school policy.'
Headteacher Zoe Johnson-Walker has now sent out a scathing letter to parents, saying it's 'certainly not possible' to explain the reasons behind every decision.
She thanked the 'majority' of parents who are supporting the policy, before turning on those who are 'undermining' her and the school.
In the letter to parents seen by MailOnline she said: 'I am disappointed that the rule around wearing jumpers is being undermined by a small number of parents.
'Our school has very clear expectations and we expect everyone to buy into the whole package and not to cherry-pick the rules that suit them and ignore those that don't.
'Parents encouraging their child to break the rules is placing their child in direct conflict with the school and if they are comfortable ignoring this rule then what other rules will each parent and child decide to ignore?
'There are so many important issues that students and parents could engage in and yet this one simple change is being undermined.
'You will be hearing about issues with the science tower shortly, school budgets are challenging, teacher recruitment is very difficult, and our PTA is about to fold as there is so little support from parents.'
Within the letter, Ms Johnson-Walker said pupils are allowed to wear a 'base layer' underneath their uniform, and can also wear any number of layers on the walk to school.
Remarking on this week's predicted hot weather, she also said she expects 'parents will be asking why I am not allowing students to wear PE kit' instead of the normal uniform.
She added that children will be able to remove their blazers in lessons 'if they ask politely, it is necessary for the task or if temperatures are high'.
'I also take issue with the abusive language used in some communications from parents,' Ms Johnson-Walker added in the letter. More Trending
'No one from our school uses such language towards parents and in future such communications will simply be printed and logged in their student's file.
'It would be easy to allow everyone to do what they liked and only follow the rules that they chose but our school would not be a safe or positive place to be.
'Every parent wants the school they select for their children to have a safe and disciplined approach, and this is reflected in how a uniform is worn.
'We are always here for your child, I need you to now be here for your school.'
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