School uniform rule - girls not allowed trousers

Okay, in that case Department of Education is the top of the chain. Any petition would need to say England not UK.

Oh no hang on that one was rejected... Are you in England OP? We might have some devolved powers issues with directly appealing to the gov.

Someone's already started one here:epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/46794 only 1 Sig so far though, let me see what else I can find

Does the head seem a vindictive sort? Will there be comeback for your kids if you keep going?

Approaching the lea and mp seem like sensible next steps in the polite persistence vein.

Otherwise we could skip straight to girl's must have option to wear trousers, national campaign...

Oops....
...as if it's just an opinion you have and let's all agree to disagree. It's not, there is a larger principle at work - the school is at odds with societal opinion that discriminating against people on the basis of gender is wrong (in this case forcing girls to wear less practical clothing that limit their participation).

The head is also being wildly hypocritical - if the majority of parents support the tradition argument why is she worried about the publicity? Surely if she's so sure she's right she would assume the article will be greeted with choruses of support for the school. No?

The head is creating a false equivalence by telling you to find a school you "agree with", as if it's merely your opini

I can't believe how ridiculous this is and how many schools seem to follow this line of thinking.

I would absolutely sign/support etc. any petition or campaign. It should be illegal for schools to do this.

If you want a campaign maybe put this in to chat or their campaigns section with an outline explaining what you want and why? not that you shouuld have to epxlain why girls and boys have the right to the same things in 2014

If they think they are doing the right thing...how is it ruining the reputation of the school!?

Surely they should be proud to have an article discussing their "traditional ways"

Wow. Just adds weight to your argument. But unless you get the backing of other parents you might find it hard to keep going. Can you drum up support? This is something that need high level backing. What about your mp?

What the hell? That's awful Fish. You haven't done anything wrong.

What are you going to do next?

I am right behind you Fish - it makes my blood boil. Two RC schools near us are the same and it put me right off them. (we are RC)
Skirts and PINK gingham dresses only for girls. Jumpers for boys, cardis for girls. White knee sock, no practical grey socks for girls.
My DD (4) hates skirts and dresses. She is utterly sad if made to wear one. She is always covered in mud and wears boys trainer type shoes.
It definitely influenced my choice of school as it was about the overall attitude to girls. I visited the 2 schools and found them formal and old fashioned in other ways e.g. different sports for boy and girls

Her school is mixed ethnically and they can all wear any combination of the uniform. They all wear polos, fleeces, cardis or jumpers. She wears long culottes (as do many of her friends) then tailored trousers in the winter. She wears shorts in the summer. She has optional gingham dresses but only wears on the odd occasion. A boy in her class laughed at seeing her knickers and teased her, so that was the end of them...

I do think its a serious issue that needs challenging - there was a long tread about it in Primary Ed recently.

Tradition is a stupid argument for a primary school when only 30 years ago it was normal for primary schools not to have a uniform at all. So this tradition is how old exactly?

I hate school uniforms for this age group (and I speak as a hand-me-downs girl who didn't half hear about it).

Did MNHQ get back to you about your idea for a campaign OP?

Sorry to hear they're being so slow.

I have been thinking about this a lot too - got to do school run but will come back later!

OP I've been lurking on the thread from the start and in completely on your side. I'm very seriously considering adding trousers-permitted-for-girls to my school selection criteria but I share your worry about disadvantaging DD over it. I've requested a mumsnet campaign, will see how we go. Have you also considered a petition on change.org eg?

Oh no .

So they're making you wait till September?

Surely as a parent with concerns about a school issue, they have to report back within a certain time frame?

That's such a long time.

I'm so disappointed in them, and my DCs don't even go to that school, goodness how you must be feeling about it all, Fish.

So frustrating.