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Uniform change upsets parents
PARENTS have given school chiefs a dressing down over a new uniform.
Jarrow School has swapped its traditional shirt, tie and blazer dress code because teaching time was disrupted while students were asked to smarten up.
Instead, students have been given polo shirts and sweatshirts, but the change has left some parents frustrated.
Susan Lough contacted the Gazette after she received a letter explaining the old uniform would replaced by a polo shirt and sweatshirt from this Tuesday.
Mrs Lough, 51, from Jarrow, said she could understand the school's right to change the uniform, but could not understand the urgency.
The mum-of-four said: "We knew they were going to change the uniform, which I think looks very smart.
"What's the hurry? Why not give us three weeks to get the new uniform instead of one week, including a bank holiday weekend.
"You want four or five sets for your child, which is not cheap. My son is in Year 7 and he has not even had a year out of his uniform."
Father Bill Braviner, chair of governors at the Field Terrace school, said: "The headteacher and governing body have decided to have a rethink about the uniform, which is important to the running of the school.
"We have managed to find some funding to help parents rather than expecting them to fork out money.
"The new executive headteacher, Ken Gibson, noticed staff were spending a lot of time trying to get the children to look smart.
"We decided to introduce this at the first available opportunity because every moment is precious."
The school, which is due to have a monitoring inspection from Ofsted after receiving a 'notice to improve' last October, said the majority of pupils, staff, parents and governors support the changes.
Mr Gibson said: "Although my preference would have been to stay with the shirt, tie and blazer, there was too much time being spent on ensuring the uniform was worn correctly.
"What we now have is an increased opportunity of being able to concentrate on the learning. I have been very impressed by how the vast majority of pupils have responded.
"We were never going to be able to please everybody, but feel that, with an HMI visit just around the corner, we had to act swiftly and decisively, but only after proper consultation.
"I am very optimistic the changes will ensure that Jarrow School continues to go from strength to strength, and that of course remains our aim."
Year 11 students will still wear the old uniform.
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Weather for Jarrow
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
