School faces legal action for making girls wear trousers

A SCHOOL that banned female pupils from wearing skirts, forcing parents to fork out for a gender neutral uniform, has been threatened with legal action.

Priory School in Lewes, East Sussex, received the legal threat following its decision to amend its uniform policy, requiring female pupils to wear trousers from September.

The change addresses the issues of “inequality and decency”, the school has said on its website. It first announced the uniform change in 2017 after concerns were raised over the length of skirts worn by some pupils.

It said the new rules would also cater for transgender students.

At the time, Tony Smith, the head teacher, said that only new pupils would be required to wear the revised uniform. However, the school has now announced that all pupils will be required to wear trousers.

So far, 209 parents have signed a petition calling on the secondary school to reverse its decision. “This is about choice,” one signatory said. “In what other walk of life is it thought inappropriate for girls to wear skirts? Yet another way of controlling I think.”

Last Tuesday, Priory School received a legal letter from a parent addressed to Mr Smith and the governors. It threatens to seek a judicial review if the school refuses to shelve the plans.

The letter argues that it is unreasonable to implement a uniform change without a transition period, particularly for Year 11 students. It states that the decision is “discriminatory” because it affects girls and their parents disproportionately.

The letter’s author calls on the school, which has more than 1,100 pupils aged 11 to 16, to announce a one-year transition period to allow parents to buy the uniform gradually and prevent parents of Year 11 pupils having to purchase clothes for just two and a half terms.

The letter further argues that the change conflicts with the passage of a motion by Lewes town council recognising a climate emergency and calling on all levels of government to limit their carbon footprint.

“There is abundant evidence that the clothing industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world,” it states.

The parent behind the letter, who does not wish to be identified, said they are a low-income household and will not send their daughter to school in the new uniform.

If the school fails to respond within 14 days or does not agree to reverse its decision, the parent will apply for a judicial review.