Parents’ fury as ‘PC-mad’ school bans girls’ skirts
ANGRY parents yesterday blasted a school as “PC-mad” and “ridiculous” after they banned skirts with a new uniform code to cater for transgender pupils.
The new policy is being phased in from year seven at Priory School in Lewes, East Sussex, whose former students include Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan.
One parent described the uniform for 11 and 12-year-olds – comprising shirt, tie, jumper and grey trousers – as “restricting for the very small minority”.
Kerry Gold Smith said: “This headmaster makes no sense at all. He’s doing this mainly for the small amount of transgender kids. What about everyone else? He is restricting them from being who they want to be for the very small minority.”
Frustration
One parent posted: “What about crossdressing boys who want to wear a skirt? This has created a sexist and gender-biased situation.
“Sometimes these meddling fools open a Pandora’s box of hypocrisy.
“If it was a practical issue, then it could be explained, but when the head comes out with ‘gender neutral’ and ‘transgender pupils’ then it becomes ridiculous.”
A former pupil lambasted the decision as “PC-mad” saying: “It’s great the school want to do their best to ensure the comfortability of any transgender students they may have there, but to restrict other students of something isn’t the answer and will only breed more division and frustration.” But last night the school defended the decision, claiming it addressed “concerns which have been raised” and was designed to make transgender pupils feel more comfortable. It also pointed out that some parents had agreed with the move, saying it helped to support transitioning students.
Tony Smith, head of the co-educational school with 1,100 pupils, also pointed out that the new rule deals with the decency of the uniform when it is worn outside.
He said: “Transgender students are only a small aspect of why we have made this decision. There are five or six trans students at the school and we have a number of other students transitioning, mainly from year nine upwards.
“I think in many ways, it’s unfair citing that as the key reason. It came from a range of issues, but transgender students did say they felt there needed to be a uniform which was acceptable.”
He added: “We also had a number of comments about students wearing indecent uniform outside of school from both the local community and parents. The new uniform is easy for parents to purchase.”
Mr Smith said the decision was “a step in the right direction”, adding: “I’m not naive enough to think there will be no issues.”
Mermaids UK, a charity which supports transgender children and their parents, also backed the move, which they say sends “a clear message of acceptance”.