We are being fleeced!
ANGRY Bishop Heber High pupils walked out of classes this week after being banned from wearing their winter coats.
They claim a new ruling which helows them to wear only regulation fleeces is a money-making ploy.
Scores of angry students refused to return to lessons at the Malpas school after lunch on Wednesday.
Acting head David Curry says Heber pupils have not been allowed to wear coats in school for years, but admits the ban has not been enforced in the past.
But that changed in September and pupils could now find themselves in trouble if they wear their coats during break or lunch-time.
If a pupil arrives at school wearing a coat, they are expected to keep it in a locker, leave it on a rack or keep it in a bag. The school is encouraging pupils to buy £15 fleeces.
However, many students say the fleeces are simply not warm enough, not waterproof and say the venture is simply a money-making idea.
This is denied by Mr Curry who was forced to rush back from a crucial county council finance meeting to confront his striking students.
The protest began at 1.15pm when students sat down in the playground and refused to return for registration.
Year 11 pupil Rachael Fowles, from Agden, who supported the protest, said: 'Everyone thinks this new rule is ridiculous. Students took part in this protest as our teachers do not want to listen to our views. It's like a prison.'
Another pupil explained how the action started: 'At 1.15pm, when every-one was due to return to class for registration, about 150 students sat down in the playground. Teachers were around but they just watched us. They did nottrytostop us. People then moved to the field, some had banners'.
Bishop Heber says 120 pupils took part in the strike, which ended at 2.10pm in a stand-off with Mr Curry in the sports hall.
Yesterday, the school braced itself for another strike which failed to start at an expected time of 1.15pm.
Instead, some students continued to defy the school ban and turned up yesterday morning in their coats.
Despite the protest, Mr Curry says the school will not change its new policy which, he says, came about as a result of a parental survey.
Before he was appointed acting head parents were asked whatc hanges they would like to see at the school.
He says the majority wished to see the traditional blazer replaced with a fleece, a move which he says was supported by 80% of pupils. As a result, governors approved the policy change.
Asked whether he was angry at students for protesting, MrCurry said: 'It's unfortunate students did not speak to their heads of year. It was a real shot out of the blue.'
When Mr Curry arrived at the school, he gathered all the protesting students into the sports hall.
'The students were fantastic. They sat down and were so compliant. I had a conversation with them for about an hour. This new policy is a firming up of expectations. We have reaffirmed the rule that coats are not allowed in school.'
Mr Curry does not agree his students should feel cold in the new fleeces.
He says students can wear an undergarment if they wish, underneath a polo shirt, jumper, blazer or fleece.
Mr Curry says his school will offer help to families who are unable to afford the fleeces - especially if they have more than one child at the school.
'We have a hardship fund,' he said. 'If parents write to us we will consider their cases.'
'A minority of students have an opinion and voiced it. But we now have a new direction. The direction for this policy change came from parents. We consulted students and they wanted to retain the summer uniform all year round and see blazers replaced by fleeces - 26 or 27 year groups out of 30 were consulted.'
Mr Curry added: 'No student will be punished for taking part in the protest. They have made their point and they were mature.'