Parents' anger over 'freezing cold' classrooms at Hastings school

Clare Estelle, whose son attends The Hastings Academy, said: “Due to the freezing cold temperatures in the classrooms at Hastings Academy, my son recently got sick from being in there and temperatures have been recorded by students of 8 and 12 degrees Celsius using NHS thermometers.

“This is too cold and is particularly bad for children with asthma. The school is offering no immediate solution and it appears this problem has been ongoing for years. My son is only in year 7 but no longer wishes to go to the school because of the cold.

“Pupils are being told they cannot even wear their outdoor coats in classes by some of the teachers.

“The heating was broken but even after a repair it still seems to be inefficient. But the other problem are broken seals in the windows, so even when the heating is on it is still not getting hot enough in the classrooms.

“The policy on extra clothes and wearing outdoor coats in cold rooms is at the discretion of the teachers, so some will let them wear extra layers and some will not. This to me seems unfair and cruel to expect children to be in cold rooms and they certainly will not be able to focus.”

She said some students were being given detentions for wearing their coats due to the cold temperatures in the classrooms.

Another parent, Hayley Gould, said: “My son took two readings of 12 and 8 degrees Celsius and after complaining to the head, all parents received a letter stating that the heating was working but had problems with the windows, and that it would be up to teachers if pupils can wear extra clothes.

“This is where the biggest problem lies is that pupils are wearing extra clothes, as they are told they can by certain teachers and getting detentions from others. A reading of 8C and 12C is too low and unacceptable. Pupils are saying that some radiators are cold to touch.”

In January last year, parents said students at the school had to sit through lessons in ‘freezing’ temperatures due to a lack of heating, with Mike Turner, borough councillor for Baird ward, describing the situation as ‘ridiculous’.

A spokesperson for the University of Brighton Academies Trust, responsible for overseeing The Hastings Academy said: “The comfort and wellbeing of our students and staff are our top priorities. During the recent adverse weather conditions It has been challenging to keep certain areas of the school heated constantly despite the heating system being fully operational.

“We want to assure our school community that every effort is being made to uphold the best possible learning conditions for all. The trust is committed to providing a conducive and comfortable atmosphere and have scheduled works to replace the heating system which is scheduled to be completed by March 2024, ensuring the academy no longer faces challenges in future winters.”