Latest news with #WinstonChurchillSchool
Metro
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Metro
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.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: My child didn't want to put his shoes on – teachers restrained him MORE: Hugh Grant slams controversial rules at his kids' 'ridiculous posh private schools' MORE: Full list of 750 free school breakfast clubs opening today
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE School bans pupils from wearing JUMPERS until November and sends scathing letter telling parents to stop encouraging their children to break the rules
Furious parents have gone to war with their children's school after the headteacher banned them from wearing jumpers until November. Winston Churchill School in Woking, Surrey, told pupils they would no longer be allowed to wear the woolly covering when they returned from the Easter holiday. Instead, they have to wear blazers 'in every situation' and can only take them off if the weather is hot and they ask 'politely'. The blanket ban at the mixed secondary school came into force on April 22 and is in place until the end of October. But angry parents have been sending their children in wearing jumpers in defiance and sending foul-mouthed emails to the school. They say the new hardline stance 'makes no sense' due to the 'unpredictable weather, chilly mornings, and the importance of students feeling good'. A petition has been started to have the jumpers reinstated as it 'isn't just about warmth - it's about comfort, confidence, and school pride'. The school's headteacher, Zoe Johnson-Walker, is yet to explain the reason behind the ban but has hit back in an extraordinary scathing letter, seen by MailOnline. Does YOUR child go to the school? Email The school's headteacher, Zoe Johnson-Walker, is yet to explain the reason behind the ban but has hit back in an extraordinary scathing letter, seen by MailOnline In it she thanks the 'majority' of parents who have been supporting the policy, before taking aim at the mothers and fathers who are 'undermining' her. Vowing not to back down she wrote: '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,' she wrote. '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?' Children can wear a 'base layer' under their shirts as well as any number of tops when they are walking to school. Mrs Johnson-Walker added her decision making is heavily influenced by having to manage 1,500 children, unlike parents who only have one or two to look after. She said: 'I know if I announced students would be wearing PE kit, almost every student would be wearing a polo shirt and shorts regardless of the temperature. 'Therefore, the rule around the jumper stands and students are expected to wear their blazer every day, in every situation. 'Staff will give students permission to remove their blazer in lessons if they ask politely, it is necessary for the task or if temperatures are high.' She goes on to bemoan the 'challenging' school budget, difficulty recruiting teachers, before blaming parents for its PTA about to fold due to there being 'so little support'. The scathing letter sent by the headteacher to parents which hits out at parents who are undermining the school's new rule on jumpers She added: 'I also take issue with the abusive language used in some communications from parents. '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.' Mrs Johnson-Walker ends the astonishing letter with a rallying cry saying 'we are always here for your child, I need you to now be here for your school'. MailOnline has contacted Winston Churchill School for comment.
