Hundreds of CedarBridge children missed school yesterday after being sent home for not having blazers.

The move was condemned by CedarBridge Academy's Parent Teacher Student Association chairman Robin Richardson who said children could not afford to keep missing class.

He said: "We had three quarters of the students out today. It's outrageous. Because of the teachers strike the momentum of the school year is broken up, then we had the mid-term break and then on the first day back they send them home. It's totally ridiculous. It wasn't the type of day for this. The weather is too hot. I am sure there are plenty of teachers up there without winter clothes. The humidity is already high but you have to wear a sweater and a blazer?"

Mr. Richardson said his own daughter had been sent home because she was without a blazer.

"It's good to have rules but when the rules get in the way of education then it becomes counter productive."

He said the school had negated the positive publicity it earned after being featured in yesterday's The Royal Gazette for winning top marks in a debating competition.

One angry mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said the school would be right to insist that children wore blazers rather than coats.

But she said if the weather was too warm the school should not insist children wore blazers.

The mother said: "I think (CedarBridge principal) Kalmar Richards' behaviour is unacceptable."

She said her daughter was always well presented and wore the rest of the uniform but had been sent home because she lacked a blazer.

"Not everybody has the same body temperature. What feels cold to one person might be hot for another. Sending children home because they don't have blazers is insane. I have not bought a blazer and I don't think I will be buying one either. I have told Kalmar Richards she had better not call the truancy officer. Are we doing education here or worrying about uniforms?"

And she said her daughter was far better presented than some of the CedarBridge teachers she had seen that day.

She said: "I would have sent two or three teachers home."

The parent said she supported Ms Richards and the recent teacher strike but she had gone too far with yesterday's action.

"What rule is she working under or is she making it up as she goes along? Some parents can't afford blazers. I can go and buy one right now but not every parent can do that. Why keep the children out of school until their family has budgeted to buy one? We are trying to co-operate but she needs to co-operate a little bit too."

Yesterday morning CedarBridge students congregated at the bus station. Some said they would go home to get blazers and then try to return while others said they did not have blazers and would have to stay home.

Student Kenneita Wade, 15, said she was missing maths, science, gym and her favourite, art class, because the school had sent her home. "I think it's silly."

Other students told The Royal Gazette said the policy was wrong because the blazers were too expensive and unnecessary in the heat.

One said: "I am too hot already just wearing this sweater."

Officials at CedarBridge said Principal Kalmar Richards was in an all day workshop yesterday and would not be able to answer calls.

Acting Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Joseph Christopher said parents had been told about the blazer policy earlier and had been given a reminder on October 21 with a note sent home via children telling them to wear blazers from today. He said parents when given the student's handbook had been required to sign a note saying they had read and understood it.

"Blazers are standard issue for the full school uniform."

Temperatures touched 78 degrees at 10 a.m yesterday. Asked why the blazers were needed in the heat Dr. Christopher said they were a standard requirement for the winter.

He said he could not comment on the complaints that the blazers were expensive. But he added if families had a valid reason for not getting one they should discuss it with the school.

He could not say how many of the school's 900 students were sent home but he admitted it was "a substantial number".

Asked about teachers being poorly dressed, he said the principal could enforce a dress code and parents could take up their concerns by writing to her.

He said he was concerned about students missing their education but the school had to maintain standards of conduct.

Yesterday's blazer controversy follow problems earlier this year when the school adopted a zero tolerance policy on the school uniform by sending home children who did not have every piece of the school uniform.

Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said he supported school uniforms but sending children home was not the answer.

He said: "Uniforms encourage pride in the school. It is also the principal's duty to insist on conformity with the school uniform. A uniform rule is a good rule. Applied fairly and evenly it can also breed respect. It makes a mockery of a school uniform if it is selectively enforced or infractions are ignored. If ample notice was given that today was the day the winter uniform is to be worn and, the offenders knew there were consequences, then I have little sympathy for the offenders."

He said efforts should be made to ensure punishments didn't generate resentment and provoke parents.

"I believe sending children home should be a punishment that is used sparingly as other issues like transportation and personal safety come into play. Other sanctions can be effective such as withdrawal of certain privileges, clearing litter, and additional work. Maybe this is a case where the punishment doesn't fit the crime but, this is a matter for the principal to re-assess."