High school students are too cold to learn because they have to remove their jackets in class, parents say.

The students, at Auckland’s Mount Albert Grammar School, are prohibited from wearing their jackets – which are optional to buy as part of their school uniform and cost $98 – inside.

Stuff understands this is because of the rustling noise the jacket makes, which has been deemed distracting in class, but was unable to reach the board of trustees for confirmation.

Instead, the students are allowed to wear a jersey, which costs $98, or a cardigan, which costs $120, in class.

Parent Tracy​ Kelly-Hunt​ said the rule is depriving children of their basic need of warmth, reflected in Maslow's hierachy of needs.

“According to my daughter most of the older rooms are cold – a new TV is bought but not heating."

The woollen school jumper is uncomfortable and itchy to wear, said the social work student at Auckland University.


Kelly-Hunt said the uniform was so expensive she had to buy it secondhand, and other parents had to borrow money from the Ministry of Social Development to pay for it.

“Why are they charging that amount for a uniform and our kids have got to take that jacket off and be cold in the classroom, and they’re not going to learn anything?”

Fellow parent Emily​ Hall​ said her 15-year-old son does not wear a jacket to school because of the rule.

He has no locker and his bag is always full, so he has nowhere to put a jacket, she said.

“As a parent, I am really annoyed that I spent a lot of money for a jacket he does not feel he can wear.”

Hall said she finds it insulting that students are having their clothing micro-managed.

Deputy head boy Tali​ Meavale​ said students have to remove their jackets because on rainy days, the clothing could be wet and damp, leading to them getting sick.

There are also problems with students sweating in their jackets at lunchtime, making them smell, he said.

Teachers in the small number of classrooms that aren’t heated are lenient, and “allow students to wear their jackets for half the period”, the 17-year-old said.

“We offer jerseys here at MAGS as well as scarves, and I understand some students can’t afford it, but we also offer help for these students.”

Mount Albert Grammar School principal Patrick​ Drumm​ said he had not received any complaints about the jackets.


The uniform was approved by the board of trustees and had not changed for many years, he said.

“Certainly if it's a serious enough issue, I'd expect and welcome parents to make contact through the normal processes.”

In June 2020, West Auckland’s Avondale College changed its policy to allow students to wear their outdoor jackets inside the classroom.

*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.