The secondary school pupil claimed she was too mortified to go back to school after the incident
16:14, 29 Jun 2026Updated 16:50, 29 Jun 2026
Alsop High School in Walton (Image: Liverpool Echo)
A schoolgirl said she was “too embarrassed” to go to school after her maths teacher reportedly told her off for using a fan, while temperatures soared above 30C in Merseyside. Nicola, a Year 7 student at Alsop High School in Walton was using a hand-held electric fan during a maths lesson on Thursday (June 25).
The 12-year-old schoolgirl, who suffers high blood pressure, was using the fan while an amber weather warning was in place for the area. The Met Office said the UK was experiencing a significant heatwave last week as it issued an amber heat warning for Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach around 33C before easing slightly on Friday.
The hot spell caused disruption across Merseyside and beyond, with rail services affected. Despite the record breaking weather, during fourth period, the hottest part of the school day, Nicola’s teacher reportedly told her to turn the fan off because it was “distracting her.”
Speaking to the ECHO, Nicola’s older sister, Viki, claimed the classroom doesn’t have air conditioning. And, she was using the fan during a lesson because she suffers from high blood pressure, fatigue, and excessive sweating following a recent car accident.
Viki said: “In the scorching heat she brought a small fan into school. During period four, when it was the hottest temperature recorded during the day, she was using her small hand held fan to cool down, she was really red as well.
“Nicola wasn’t talking or being distracting at all, just concentrating on her work. She got worked up over the incident, it’s not nice being singled out in front of people. She was embarrassed and it was already really hot yesterday.”
Omega Multi-Academy Trust on behalf of Alsop High School said students were permitted to use handheld fans in school during the recent period of exceptionally hot weather. It said the school is seeking to address this issue with the student’s parents directly and it does not reflect the wider experience of students at the school.
The trust added that the school put a “huge range” of measures in place to assist pupils and staff during the recent hot weather including relaxing the school uniform expectations, supplying additional free drinks for students sitting assessments; lessons being relocated and offering free ice-lollies to every student.
A spokesperson said: “Throughout this, we have explained to our students the importance of keeping themselves safe and cool and many of our students have used handheld fans.” The trust said it was “immensely proud” of the way students and staff dealt with the hot weather.
Nicola said she was “too embarrassed” to go to school on Friday, June 26 following the incident and stayed home. Viki called the school to acknowledge her absence and complain about how she was treated the previous day; however, she claims the school “ignored” her.
Omega Multi-Academy Trust confirmed the school received a call from a family member and said was not authorised to discuss Nicola’s welfare. In line with its safeguarding and data protection responsibilities, it said the school was unable to discuss the matter with them.
The trust added that attempts to contact the student’s parents were made and a formal complaint has not been made.
Her sister doesn’t understand why a fan was banned from the classroom, she said: “The room has no air condition it was so hot and stuffy.”
A spokesperson for Omega Multi-Academy Trust said in a statement: “At Alsop High School, we look to respond to any complaint within 48 hours, once we have had time to investigate the complaint, as this is our policy.
“We did receive a telephone call from a family member who was not authorised to discuss the student’s welfare on behalf of the family. In line with our safeguarding and data protection responsibilities, we have been unable to discuss the matter with them.
“We have made attempts to contact the student’s parents to understand any concerns they may have and to provide an opportunity to discuss the matter directly.
“To date, we have not received a response or a formal complaint from the student’s parents. Should they wish to raise any concerns with the school, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss them and work constructively with the family.
“During the recent period of exceptionally hot weather, students were permitted to use handheld fans in school and many chose to do so without issue. This relates to an individual concern which we are seeking to address directly with the student’s parents, should they wish to engage with us. We do not believe it reflects the wider experience of students at Alsop High School or raises any broader issue affecting the school community.
“At Alsop High School we take the safety of our students extremely seriously and put in place a huge range of measures to assist our pupils and staff during the recent hot weather: some of these measures included:
Relaxing our school uniform expectations to help children and staff stay cool by wearing PE kit.Students have been encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle in to school daily, which can be topped up at our water refill stations, to help everyone stay hydrated. Cups are available for all students who may not have had a bottle.Supplying additional free drinks for students sitting assessments.Lessons being relocated from any areas of the building which may be uncomfortable to cooler areas.Adjusting lesson content and activities to reduce physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day.Adapting all PE lessons.Offering free ice-lollies to every student.
“Throughout this, we have explained to our students the importance of keeping themselves safe and cool and many of our students have used handheld fans.
“We are immensely proud of the way our students and staff have reacted, kept smiling and dealt with the hot weather this week and retained our focus on ensuring the best possible experience for every child.”