SCHOOL children are shivering in their outdoor coats in the classroom after their heating stopped working.

Pupils at The Bishop of Winchester Academy in Bournemouth have been urged to wear several layers of clothing until the problem is resolved.

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Now parents have voiced fears that their children could become ill and their learning could be affected.

They claim there has been an ongoing problem with heating at the Mallard Road secondary school.

Some areas of the school still have heating but pupils have complained they are freezing in other areas.

One parent told the Daily Echo: "I was told that the pupils are allowed to wear their outdoor coats in school until it is repaired. This is ridiculous. We are heading for some very poorly children over Christmas if this continues."

And a grandmother added: "The children are sitting there trying to learn in absolutely freezing conditions, it is terrible.

"Some of these mornings they've been soaking wet when they have arrived at school, as it has thrown it down.

"This is disgraceful and needs urgently looking into as it has been like this for quite some time.

"It is very important for them to learn, but how can they learn when they are frozen?

"Admittedly they are not infants or juniors, they are a bit more hardy than the young ones - but this is still unacceptable."

Bournemouth was one of the coldest places in the UK on Monday night with temperatures falling to minus 4.2C.

Temporary heaters are being used in some of the classrooms.

A spokesman for the school said: "Unfortunately, the academy has been experiencing some difficulties with its heating system. The problems have now been identified and the engineers are on-site resolving the issues."

The school also insisted that temporary heating is in all classroom areas and temperatures are being monitored constantly, with all classrooms between 18.5C and 25C.

The statement continued: "Students are able to wear their burgundy academy jumpers under their blazers and outdoor coats over their blazers while the engineers are resolving the matter.

"There are a number of areas in the academy where the heating systems are still fully functioning."

The school was first established in 1953 as the Summerbee Secondary Modern School.