Skirts have been banned at a school because the head teacher
said girls have repeatedly breached rules by wearing them above the
knee.
Instead, from September, students at Moulton School and
Science College in Northamptonshire will be forced to wear black
tailored trousers.
Headteacher Trevor Jones said he has taken the radical
decision in order to fight the 'over-sexualisation' of
children.
If they fail to obey the new rule, pupils will be given
second-hand clothing to wear for the day or sent home to get
changed.
Mr Jones said he had seen girls coming into school with
skirts halfway up their thighs or even higher.
He added: 'Some of them would be more appropriate in a
nightclub than in a classroom.'
'I think there is massive pressure with girls and
image.
'School should be a place where they can come and not have to
worry about that for a few hours and instead concentrate on their
learning.'
The existing rules had outlined that girls must wear skirts
that were knee-length or below, but he said that this rule had been
consistently broken.
He added: 'The minimum length was proving impossible to
enforce, so we are now looking at a total ban.'
'I have had complaints from a number of parents and some
girls are feeling aggrieved but we think this will make the school
a safer place.
'It is another aspect of body image they don’t have to worry
about while they are here.'
The school's website states the rule change, adding: 'School
uniform plays a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of a
school and setting an appropriate tone.
'It can instil pride, support positive behaviour and
discipline, encourage identity with the school ethos and protect
children from social pressures to dress in a particular
way.'
It states that anyone not wearing the correct uniform will be
offered second-hand clothing if available or children will be
collected by their parents so they can return when correctly
dressed.
The new uniform policy at the school also includes a ban on
scarves and hats, unless in cold weather.
Trousers are not allowed to have any non-black stitching or
visible metal buttons.
