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Original poster

School uniform rule - girls not allowed trousers

296 replies

Fisharefriendsnotfood · 10/01/2014 18:04

I'm wondering if I can call on the collective wisdom of you good people to help me construct my argument in the best way.

Dd (5) and yr 1 attends a local R.C primary school that I am more than happy with. She suffers from recurrent thrush and this year I noticed that when she wore tights under her pinafore it seemed to exasperate the problem. I checked the school prospectus for details because I have never seen a girl in trousers at the school and it states that girls must wear a pinafore or skirt as school uniform..

I then emailed the head and explained the issue and asked for clarification on the rules and she said that the last time the issue came before the chair of governors they decided not to introduce trousers as part of the girls uniform. She was very sympathetic and pleasant and said that if I got a doctors letter perhaps she.could allow it.

Now, there is no way dd would wear trousers if no one else was and I also feel that this would high light the issue / invite questions into something that is no one else's business.

So Grin if you are still with me, I want to get the issue raised again with the chair of governors because I cannot think of any valid reason in this day and age why girls should not wear trousers if the want to. I have to speak at a parent voice meeting and if I can muster enough support the issue will be on the agenda of the next governors meeting where I can present my argument.

Where to start? Can anyone offer pointers?

Sorry for the essay Smile

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 18:44

also why should she have to when -
a) girls routinely wear trousers out of school
b) women teachers wear trousers to work
c) she would be more comfortable wearing trousers
d) she could play more freely in trousers

FunkyBoldRibena · 10/01/2014 18:42

Why can't she just wear the skirt or pinafore with socks and no tights?

Because it can get fucking cold out there?

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotfood · 10/01/2014 18:32

That post was in response to Nigellas issue with being the one to rock the boat by the way

OP posts:
BettyBotter · 10/01/2014 18:32

Link here

www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/before-the-equality-act/guidance-for-students-pre-october-2010/being-treated-with-respect/school-uniform

And to quote
But it is currently up to individual schools to decide whether or not girls are allowed to wear trousers – or boys are allowed to wear earrings – in that school.The basic principle should be that, because trousers are conventional dress for girls, there is a strong argument that it would be unlawful sex discrimination to deny a girl the opportunity to wear smart trousers as an alternative to skirts as part of a uniform code. But so far, courts have not had to make a judgment on whether different school uniform regulations for boys and girls would be discriminatory under the Sex Discrimination Act.

EduCated · 10/01/2014 18:31

Of course it is sexist. They are refusing to allow girls to wear a perfectly normal and practical item of clothing purely because they are female. How is that anything but sexist?

It's just traditional sexism Hmm

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotfood · 10/01/2014 18:31

I don't mind actually. I'm not trying to stop anyone wearing skirts I just want them to have a choice. Traditional school or not this seems really wrong to me.

OP posts:
KepekCrumbs · 10/01/2014 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 18:29

mind you what parent wants to be 'the one that rocks the boat'....?
tricky one

NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 18:27

google this OP -
"is it legal for schools to ban girls wearing trousers"
and a heap of interesting stuff involving legal action and the EOC comes up.

scarlettsmummy2 · 10/01/2014 18:25

Lots of schools don't allow girls to wear trousers. Completely normal in private and grammar schools. I don't think that it is necessarily because the schools are being 'sexist', but more that they want to appear traditional.

Bunbaker · 10/01/2014 18:23

"It's not up to the head, I have to get the boards of governors to change the rule"

How odd. I am a governor at a large secondary school. The governors have no say in the school uniform. It is the head teacher who decided it. Although, I suppose the governors agreed to it (but that was before my time).

I agree that it is odd to not let girls wear trousers.

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotfood · 10/01/2014 18:22

The thrush is being looked into but I mentioned it as it's what brought the no trouser rule to my attention. I don't want to even mention it in my dealings with the parent voice committee and then the board of governors.

Can anyone help me present my argument as to why it is an archaic and out dated rule..

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 18:20

i cannot believe that schools are still digging in their heels over an argument i thought we had in the 1970s!!
your daughter's medical issues are not really the point, poor girl though.
what curlew said essentially.

RRudyR · 10/01/2014 18:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IHatePopUpTents · 10/01/2014 18:18

Maybe until you get it sorted you can maybe bend the rules and send her in leggings? honestly not sure if that's any better than tights.. But maybe?

Might be able to get away with it, if the teacher knows then you dd can explain away with 'all my tights are in the wash' or whatever?

curlew · 10/01/2014 18:16

Personally I wouldn't mention the thrush. I would just point out that it is discriminatory not to allow girls to wear trousers, and ask that a change in the uniform is made ASAP before you complain to OFSTED and the Secretary of State.

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotfood · 10/01/2014 18:15

It's not up to the head, I have to get the boards of governors to change the rule. I am asking for help as to how to achieve that. Thanks for pointing out my error, my poor brain is fried Smile

OP posts:
BettyBotter · 10/01/2014 18:13

I think the thrush is a side issue. (Not for your dd, obviously).

The main point is wtf is a school thinking in this current day and age not allowing girls to wear trousers anyway? Blatant discrimination. Angry

Apart from the fact that for running, playing, sitting on the floor and active dcs trousers are warmer and more suitable than skirts or dresses, there are cultures where girls would want to cover their legs.

Some schools round here have banned skirts.

DontCallMeDaughter · 10/01/2014 18:11

I had to stop wearing tights due to recurrent thrush when I was a teenager... So I have sympathy for your dd. It also seems archaic to prevent girls wearing trousers, I'd revisit that with the head.

And you mean exacerbate, not exasperate. Sorry.

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotfood · 10/01/2014 18:07

She wears socks but in the cold I would prefer her to wear trousers. And I don't see why she shouldn't be allowed. Cotten trousers would not cause thrush.

OP posts:
birdybear · 10/01/2014 18:06

i would think that she would get thrush in trousers? my mother never wears trousers cos she gets cystitis!

why can't she just wear the skirt or pinafore with socks and no tights?