Sexism row as school bans girls from wearing trousers
Furious pupil Stephanie Cox wrote: “I think that this is sexist to girls. You can’t force a girl to wear something they don’t want to.
“How is a skirt going to change the way we learn?”
Pupil Owen Hingston said: “I think it’s disgusting that the school has turned to sexism to try and solve their uniform problems.
“So much for them making all their learners feel equal.”
Lisa Foulkes posted: “It is madness, the girls should be given a choice to either wear skirts or trousers.”
Welsh Assembly member Carl Sargeant said: “Gender assigned clothing is ridiculous! Uniform is fine but it should not be based on gender.”
In the letter, Mrs Peers said the proposed changes were needed due to problems with schoolgirls wearing “skin-tight” trousers, leggings Cllr Dunbobbin was not consulted and jeans. She wrote: “At present girls are permitted to wear trousers, this has been an ongoing issue in regard to denims being worn, leggings and skintight trousers.
“The boys are expected to wear tailored trousers and look extremely smart.
“To bring the same level of consistency to the uniform for girls I would like to make the change to skirts.”
Parents are asked to respond with their views by next Monday.
The letter claimed the school The plan for girls at Connah’s Quay school has sparked a furious bust-up council, students and governors were consulted but school governor Cllr Andy Dunbobbin revealed his colleagues were completely in the dark over the proposal.
Cllr Dunbobbin said: “I am absolutely disgusted and shocked. The way the headteacher has gone about it is awful.”
He also slammed the move for being disrespectful to the LGBT community, adding: “It’s dangerous for anyone feeling trapped in a different body if they are suddenly made to wear a skirt. It’s sexist.”
Flintshire County Council did not respond to requests for a comment yesterday.
The row comes as a west London private girls school vowed to let gender-questioning female students be called by boys’ names and wear boys’ uniforms.
St Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith, which charges £7,500 a term, said it was responding to increasing numbers of girls outwardly questioning their gender.
The school, whose former students include Labour MP Harriet Harman, said it will consider requests from pupils aged 16-plus.