My daughter is a current Year 6 pupil in Cogan Primary School where children are being denied the option to wear their Leaver Hoodies, due to a shopping list of trivial and ridiculous reasons. Denying the children the chance to celebrate their final year of primary school in the same way as all other children of the same age within the local area is unfair. Even with a mere 6 weeks left of term, the children are still not allowed to even wear hoodies at break or lunch, or more recently, do so much as hang them on their coat pegs.

Wearing Leavers hoodies has become a cherished tradition for Year 6 pupils, marking an important milestone in their educational journey. It fosters a sense of unity and pride among students as they prepare for secondary school. Please sign this petition to allow our children at Cogan Primary School to wear their Leavers hoodies and celebrate this important moment in their lives!

As much as this issue is small and silly, it is part of many issues concerning parents of the school at the moment. This concern is a part of a much bigger control and dictatorship existing in the school over the past few years where voices are not effectively heard. 

Just some of the reasons as to why we feel the children should have this option:

1. Contrary to popular belief, Hooded jumpers are not a strangulation risk. It is suggested that at the current time, the children are not trusted to wear hoodies responsibly, yet within 3 months, they will be attending a high school where hoodies are part of the uniform. 

2. The uniform policy in the school is not strictly enforced within the school, and even so hoodies are not prohibited under the school uniform policy. 

3. During non-uniform days, the children must adhere to several health and safety rules and suggestions, hoodies have not ever been a part of this.

4. When attending events involving other schools from within our cluster and the local authority, our children stand out as the only ones not celebrating their final year with hoodies. 

5. The age-old belief that hoodies and anti-social behaviour go hand in hand should not be reinforced, particularly not by peers or teachers.

6. This is not something that parents are asking the school to arrange, each year 6 cohort has arranged  (and will continue to) the purchase of hoodies, at their own cost. Budgeting, planning, ensuring affordability and inclusion are paramount to providing all children equal opportunities whilst acknowledging financial constraints and personal choice.

7. Pupil and parent voices should matter and be heard. Be it for something as simple as the wearing of hoodies to more serious matters.

This petition strives to display that parents want their own and their children's views to be acknowledged and considered. Sometimes change is necessary, and this is one of those instances.