School bans shorts but tells boys they can wear skirts

BOYS who are too hot in the classroom can wear skirts but not shorts, a secondary school has told parents.

Chiltern Edge School in Sonning Common, Oxon, introduced a new uniform at the beginning of the academic year and the only leg wear permitted are trousers or skirts.

One parent of a pupil asked staff if his son could wear tailored shorts in the summer, but the school, which was rated inadequate by Ofsted, said that they were not part of the uniform.

Asked if the boy could wear a skirt, the school told the father that the uniform was gender neutral and therefore male pupils could wear skirts.

Alastair Vince-porteous, a parent, said: “I know that in the past other schools have [allowed] skirts so I asked if my son was able to do that and the school said yes. I was told shorts are not part of the uniform.

“It’s a shame we can’t be more grown up about it, we aren’t asking for ra-ra skirts or skinny jeans, just grey tailored shorts for two months a year, it’s not a big deal.”

Another parent said: “We send our children to Chiltern Edge, not Eton,” while Joanne Muday added: “It’s nuts to make the kids wear blazers and ties when it gets very hot. If people say the kids need to stick to the rules, we change the rules.”

Moira Green, the head teacher, said: “In September 2017, with the support of parents, Chiltern Edge made the decision to move to a more formal uniform. This has been a success.”

The school introduced the new uniform last year after having been branded inadequate by Ofsted. In August the school will join the Maiden Erlegh Trust and become an academy.