Schoolboys wear skirts to protest shorts ban

Around 30 boys have worn skirts to school in protest at not being allowed to wear shorts in hot weather.

The boys wore tartan kilts – part of the girls’ uniform – over their shorts at the Isca Academy in Exeter, Devon, in opposition to having to wear long trousers.

A Devon County Council spokesman said none of the boys were reprimanded and no-one was put in “isolation” or given detention for wearing a skirt.

Headteacher Aimee Mitchell said she was happy to consider changing the uniform policy in hot weather in the future, but needed to consult students and families first.

“We recognise that the last few days have been exceptionally hot and we are doing our utmost to enable both students and staff to remain as comfortable as possible,” she said.

“Shorts are not currently part of our uniform for boys and I would not want to make any changes without consulting both students and their families.

“However, with hotter weather becoming more normal, I would be happy to consider a change for the future and will talk to families and staff further about this in the coming weeks.”

Ms Mitchell said that pupils and staff would be allowed to remove their ties and undo top buttons. During lessons, shirts could also be untucked, but had to be tucked in at the end of lessons.