Students at The Sittingbourne School can ditch their ties and wear trainers for the rest of this week, after the school extended its temporary uniform relaxations on Monday. Headteacher Mr N Smith confirmed the measures will stay in place as warm temperatures continue across Kent.
The school said pupils are not required to wear ties, and may attend in tailored black or navy blue shorts or sports shorts in the same colours, though Lycra is not permitted. Trainers can replace standard school shoes. Parents have been reminded to send their children to school with a refillable water bottle and to apply sunscreen before arrival.
The current relaxations follow earlier heat-related adjustments that began in late June, when temperatures reached 37°C and forced an early closure at 12:50pm on 26 June. The school, run by the Swale Academies Trust, returned to standard hours on 28 June with blazers optional but ties and usual footwear still required. Full relaxations were reinstated on 3 July as forecasts predicted 32°C.
Term 6 ends on 27 July, meaning this week’s changes fall within the final weeks of the academic year. The school is based on Swanstree Avenue, and the uniform adjustments affect all pupils.
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