DDs school has skirts only uniform for girls

I second the stinking letter right away. In about 200 I worked for a West End theatre which had a skirts only policy.

Most of the staff were Spanish, Portuguese and Colombian....from mainly traditional backgrounds where they wouldn't question their boss....and as soon as I heard this "policy" I kicked up a stink and it as immediately dropped.

Why can you not just send your dd in wearing trousers? I would write a note that she can carry and give to whoever addressed, To whom this may concern, dd will be wearing trousers as the skirts are not suitable for her thankyou Mydogsleepsonthebed

I thought uniforms were not enforceable in state primaries

I think a 'Really?... . 'Really? Are you actually serious? approach.

Followed by direct action, if necessary, and enough daughters are willing.

Can you suggest culottes?

Link classic.next.co.uk/x503680s3

I feel the uniform should be equal, it wasn't when I went to primary school 20 years ago, but I like my dd in a pinafore. I think pinafores and skirts look nicer tbh, although that's not the issue.

I cried so hard one day coming home from school because I couldn't wear trousers. I wasn't being a feminist, I was freezing!! I remember my Dad telling me I was just causing trouble grrrrr
Good luck with the letter some great points made. When I read posts on here - I imagine you all sat in my room and I feel safe surrounded by wise people and ones who make me pee my pants!!

horrible going to school in a skirt and boys sticking stuff up your skirt like it was really funny or something...

UNHELPFUL COMMENT ALERT!

Why don't you suggest that to make it equal, boys' trousers should be crotchless?

spot on tiggyD

There was a boy in the paper a while back who got annoyed about the uniform issue and went to school in a skirt using a loophole. I think in the end, it was said they could not specify what gender wears each uniform. They can have different items of uniform but not for a specific gender.

You could praise the school for having a skirt only policy.

Eg, "Congratulations for realising that girls are born to raise children, keep an efficient house, and look good for their men. Your skirt policy helps this by restricting the rougher, unfeminine activities such as running and cycling, meaning they get less exercise..." etc.

its on the directgov.co.uk bit, google it and it will come up, my pc wont let me c&p for some reason!

google the department for education it has a bit about uniform and i have just been reading it (issue at my kids primary re uniform) it CLEARLY states that uniform cannot discriminate on grounds of GENDER, race, religion etc, so this is gender discrimination!

it says there is no legal precedent and it would be for a court to decide (in their uqestions and answers bit) but i doubt a school would take it that far! bloody outrageous, i fought this battle when i was at high school, i did a petition and everything! we were then allowed to wear trousers.

I'm sure there have been news stories about schools that have had to back down on this due to gender discrimination - possibly the Human Rights Act?

quick google found this dunno what happened but worth calling the Equalities Commission to find out whether they have any guidance for schools?

My dd has just started a skirts-only secondary. Her twin pronged attack is the difficulty of cycling (so it impacts girls health) and the cost issue - boys don't have to contantly buy tights (it's an unusal colour so you can't buy cheap tights at any old supermarket.)

dd's powers of persuation are going to be tested, but I'm proud that's she's going to keep trying.

I wouldn't put up with it personally, it is unbelievable in this century.

Our primary has this as well. I hate it - trousers are so much more practical for climbing and also easier to get on than tights. My 4yo DD can dress and undress fine but can't manage the tights. I would like to send her in trousers but the head is very old fashioned and has been head for 20+ years and would be pretty mad.

But I am interested, those of you at schools where they can wear trousers, what do they wear in the summer instead of the 1950s style school dress?

Boys can wear skirts at my dcs school. There's a uniform kilt option!

wear ...

LRD - I don't either, but its the kind of discussion that makes people nervous, and when people get nervous they stick with the status quo.

If the OP wants her governing body to just go 'yes of course girls can where trousers, what were we thinking in not reviewing our uniform rules in light of the 20th century' then she probably doesn't want to open the can of worms labelled 'boys in skirts' at this point.

I don't see what's wrong with saying boys can wear skirts, TBH. It's unlikely they will, but not exactly an issue. If they just remove all references to gender, it'll be fine.

fgs wasn't this battle fought in the seventies?