With the UK set to sizzle this week, a heat alert has been issued for some parts of the country as temperatures are anticipated to hit 33C today. The hot weather is posing a problem for schools, as headteachers face the crucial decision of whether or not to ban sports day.
It may be the biggest day of the school year for many children, but sports day is being reconsidered by many schools due to parents being asked to prevent their children from engaging in vigorous physical exercise. The hot weather is set to last all week, with those in the affected areas advised to check on the elderly and vulnerable, and cover windows or stay in the shade.
On Good Morning Britain today, July 11, Olympic badminton silver medallist Gail Emms and The Apprentice star Bushra Shaikh debated whether they are happy with their daughters competing in sports day this week. Whilst Bushra argued that those attending and competing are 'going to faint' in 34C heat, Gail argued that sports day should still go ahead up and down the country as it is 'really important for the sporty kids'.
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Bushra told Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls: "Think we’re all going to faint in that 34 degrees if that’s what they’re saying it is, right, tomorrow? It’s just far too hot.
"And we’re not talking about thirty minutes in the sunshine, it’s an entire day and vigorous exercise and different activities. It’s just too hot for them, and I’ve been there before and I’ve seen what kids are like in 21C - this is ten degrees more."
On the contrary, Gail said: "I remember on the first day of school, the first day of term, I wanted to know when school sports day was.
"It was my day. It is really important for the sporty kids; yes, it’s going to be hot, but you can make adjustments. We can do compromises.
"We’re not asking them to do a marathon in this heat - it’s 100 metres, it’s a couple of minutes doing a race of some sort. It’s not asking them to do lots of exercise in the heat."
Susanna replied: "Except the warning is ‘don’t let children do vigorous exercise’, it doesn’t get much more vigorous than a sports day."
With Gail claiming that children running 100 metres is 'not that much', the Olympic badminton player said that sports days is the day that sporty kids shine, whilst other children excel in other subjects like maths, science, and English. Bushra retorted: "But Gail, it’s sports day? It’s not a big deal."
Gail said: "For 12 year old me, it was my Olympics. It really meant so much to me to win that trophy for the school - hopefully you can tell the passion."
When Susanna pointed out that those concerned could perhaps ask for their child not to take part, and back up their choice with the advice that has been issued today, Gail replied: "I think the teachers don’t really want them to do that. This is like a team sport, what they try to kind of say is let’s have this inclusive sports day and everyone can just enjoy the day and if parents opt their kids out there's not very many left.
"I understand that there are concerns for certain children, compromise surely? You can’t cancel sports day, even to do it a little bit earlier or later in the school day, for instance, something like that, not necessarily at 12 o’clock."
The debate sparked discussion amongst viewers watching along at home, who took to social media to share their views on the matter. Heather Penny said: "So let the sporty kids do #sportsday in the boiling heat then...and let the rest of them bunk off & eat ice cream (not speaking from experience at all...) I was called a 'disgrace to the school' for taking part but coming last."
"I love the way academics pour shade on sports day and physical competition," Dan said. "They're all fine with competition when their kids are picking up A's in class but when it time for those less academic to shine they are happy to remove competition and talk 'It's the taking part'."
"I take it all these folk wanting to cancel sports day will be keeping their kids indoors throughout the school holidays and not going abroad?" wrote Simon Olive.
Sarah wrote: "Don’t cancel sports day, if you can even call at that now. There is absolutely no competition at my daughter school, couldn’t believe what I watched this year. So sad how it’s gone"
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