BOYS at a high school put on skirts in protest at not being allowed to wear shorts in the heatwave.

Many of the male pupils who wore them at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, St Asaph on Friday had borrowed from girls, who had brought spare skirts to school in a show of solidarity. Some boys were reportedly sent home.

But Mark Hampson, a parent of one of the boys, said of his son: “He was sent home to change. He refused.

“They threatened to suspend him last week if he didn’t comply but they didn’t.

“I think he’s gone in shorts today (Tuesday) and ignored them, which to be honest, I strongly support.

"How can children effectively study if they are hot and bothered?

"A group of them all were wearing skirts. They all refused [to change out of them].

"They rang parents and to be honest, my wife couldn’t stop laughing.

"They said he (his son) would be suspended if he didn’t get changed, so he went home and just put a pair of shorts on under the skirt went back and that was it.

"I know standards must be kept but there must be a degree of flexibility and realism to situations like the weather."

However, a spokesman for Denbighshire education authority told the Journal: “The school did not challenge their decision and allowed them to wear skirts during the school day.”

The spokesman added that the school’s uniform policy, which does not allow shorts, remained in force.

In a letter sent to parents on Wednesday, June 27 urging safety precautions for pupils during last week’s heatwave where temperature climbed as high as 26C, headteacher Bethan Cartwright said: “Currently short trousers/shorts are not part of the school uniform, therefore every child is expected to wear the correct uniform. Some pupils have asked for shorts to be part of the school uniform.

“We are eager to listen to the pupils’ views and we will consult on having shorts being part of the official school uniform in future.

“At the moment, shorts are not part of the school uniform, so we expect all pupils to wear the correct uniform for school.”

“They can leave their jumpers at home, but they are expected to bring their jackets to school.”

Parents took to Facebook to air their views on the matter.

Sarah Louise Brown, of Rhyl, agreed with the school’s stance, saying: “When I was in Glan Clwyd many moons ago, boys always wore trousers and girls wore skirts were never aloud to wear trousers through all seasons, didn’t do us any harm and the boys certainly did not protest. It was called respect.”

Joan Higgins asked: “Do the male teachers all wear a properly fastened shirt collar and tie under their suit jackets? I don’t think so.”

Sarah Jane Jones said: “I do think the uniform needs to be reviewed, as it does make sense for young boys to wear shorts in this heat.

“My 11-year-old, who will be going to this school come September, has been in shorts all week for school.

“Girls can wear trousers or skirts; why can’t boys wear trousers or shorts?

“What about girls that may not like skirts. They should be able to wear shorts too.”