School’s skirt ban is given short shrift from parents
PARENTS have vowed to continue flouting a “nightmare” school dress code, after scores of pupils were sent home for not wearing “gender neutral” uniforms.
Under the policy, all pupils must don trousers after concerns were raised over skirt length and to avoid discriminating against transgender pupils.
But holding placards calling for “choice”, girls said they would continue to fight the ruling.
Libby Murray, 15, said: “They are taking away our choice. It’s not fair.”
Her mother Cressida, a 51-year-old former teacher, said: “It really is a nightmare. They are essentially being told to wear a boy’s uniform.
“And the cost is ridiculous. As is the waste of clothes.”
Nina Cullen, also 15, said: “I don’t think it’s fair that we are being forced to change to a uniform that costs more than £100.”
Guarded
Her mum Sheila said: “The cost of the clothes is ridiculous. It’s £119.90. This isn’t gender neutral. It is targeting girls who now have to wear trousers.”
Police guarded Priory School in Lewes, East Sussex, yesterday as teenage girls who had defied the ban shouted “let us in”.
As headteacher Tony Smith looked on, pupils tried to storm the gates but, with the help of police officers, all those wearing skirts were turned away.
Dave Flower, 48, whose daughter Jess is in Year Nine, said: “Tony Smith talks to us but he simply will not listen. The school also has an exclusive contract with a firm that makes the uniforms.
“The parents are happy to take the kids home now. We are not giving up and have employed a human rights lawyer and plan to fight.”
When the ruling was made in 2017, the school said it would only apply to new students. But shortly before the summer holidays it decided all students would have to wear trousers. A parent of a Year 11 pupil, who did not want to be named, said: “This is not about the uniforms being gender neutral. This is about having to buy completely new uniforms for only a few terms.”
Parents stressed that they have been in discussions with the school about the possibility of a compromise.
Last night, a spokesman for the school said: “Priory School uniform is designed to be a practical uniform which encourages students to be ready to focus on their school work and activities.”