School uniform rule - girls not allowed trousers

Oh, and when you do the document, make it public! Then they can't dismiss you.

Pm me if you like. I kind of do this kind of thing for a living (not uniforms but putting together this type of action plan with arguments, etc)

I am currently going through a "stand up and be counted" phase after years of not being able to say what I think publicly because of where I used to work. Would be happy to help!

Sorry that was not at all the correct way to put that.

ANother, my argument in the 90s was based around there being nothing in the uniform rules that stated boys couldn't wear skirts.

It s'more complicated than that now obviously, as people have the legal right to choose to live as the other gender don't they?

True but can they not argue that they are discriminating against both genders and by doing so are being fair.

I am totally not defending it btw it is a genuine question we do not have the rule in dds school however all the girls secondary school would have no trouser rules and they are mostly single sex (not UK) so no gender policy. It has never really occurred to me to be bothered about it because of the nasty colours uniforms tend to be and how awful the trousers look on boys and girls but I am all for freedom of choice.

Would it not come back to the question that boys are not allowed wear skirts though if you argue the gender discrimination?

I'm just horrified, I led a rebellion at my secondary in 1990 in order to have girls allowed to wear trousers to school, I am absolutely horrified 24 years on school still have this stupid and archaic rule.

Great post WorkingBling.

Personally, I would not mention the thrush, it would be very hard to ensure that this were not talked about and I am sure your dd would not want this known, and as you say, she will only wear trousers if others do.

I would ask the governors why there is this rule. My guess is that they will say they have always done it, it looks smart etc etc.

Then I would write with your clear succinct arguments as to why in 21st Century Britain it is unacceptable to make girls wear skirts. I would also threaten to get OFSTED involved. I am no big fan of OFSTED but they must be good for something.

I think in this day and age to force girls to wear skirts is, at best, old fashioned and unhelpful and pretty cruel at worst. Lots of kids like to wear trousers, my DD never wears skirts.

The reasons why girls should be able to wear trousers:
*Simple equality, why should girls be forced to reveal their legs or wear long skirts which hinder walking and activities.
*Trousers are more comfortable (if they were not why would men wear them almost all the time and the majority of women wear them a lot of the time!)
*Trousers are warmer in winter
Trousers look just as smart as skirts
There is utterly no reason to Make girls wear skirts, By not allowing girls to wear trousers they are forcing girls to wear skirts and reveal their legs! (My blood is boiling)

If this falls on deaf ears I would bring out ...
*Trousers are more 'modest' in the sense that when girls run around and play and are wearing trousers other people cannot see their knickers, which in this day and age when concerns about people looking at girls etc are so rife would make it monumentally more sensible to me.

If female teachers wear trousers at the school I cannot see how they can argue girls should not.

Hope you get the right answer (I think in many places girls would have the right to wear trousers as part of religious dress)

Plus read this, I am sure the school would not want negative publicity!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-126456/School-face-court-girls-wear-trousers.html

Also see this www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/1164501-Girls-not-allowed-to-wear-trousers-to-school-anyone-with-experience/AllOnOnePage

Let us know how you get on. Just make it clear the issue is not going away and get some friends on board, but do not mention medical or other issues as these will not be the same for other kids/mums/dads.

Good luck.

I had a run in with the HT in my DD's school on exactly this about 5 years ago. (I recall it was discussion of the day on here!)

The head made some comment about 'If you want to dress your daughter like a boy that's up to you, but I'm not changing the whole school uniform to accommodate it' (We went to a different school in the end)

I think it is ridiculous that we try to impose this on children at that age - it only serves to reinforce that girls are there to be pretty, not practical.

Anyhow, do you think your DD would be any better with skirt and cotton leggings if you can't get the uniform change?

I have a To Do list a mile long but I have been sucked into this thread. OMG. I simply don't understand why other parents, other WOMEN, would ponce on about "tradition". Here is what my action plan would be:

1. Start informally canvassing other parents, particularly the mothers of girls as it sounds like your school has weird boy-parents.
2. Depending on the results of Point 1 above, consider making the email you send one in the joint names of a number of other, like-minded parents.
3. Similarly, try to speak to some of the teachers, including the head, and get them to give their views. I imagine as teachers they would prefer the practical solution of girls wearing trousers. Again, if you can, add these names to your email.
4. Consider an actual presentation or formal document presenting your case. This could include a summary of the legal status or any EU/national guidelines, a scathing dismissal of the "tradition" argument by figuring out what the uniforms were for boys and girls at your school 50 years ago (or some similar example); a clear indication of the increased cost of girls needing to wear tights etc.
5. Based on your conversations in 1 and 3, prepare a FAQ to go along with your document. Provide the so-called concerns raised by others and answer each and every one with a clear and concise dismissal (often this will simply mean repeating whatever was said in your original document).
6. Request the opportunity to present your argument in case. Check the by laws of your school and under what conditions you can attend. If necessary, volunteer as a governor or other parent-volunteer to get on there.

Good luck. I think this is appalling.

Suggest you include the sun issue - dresses don't cover up legs the way trousers do, and women are most prone to getting skin cancer on arms and legs.

This 'they look so sweet in their pinafores' type argument is infuriating! Basically saying girls are ornamental, boys are allowed to be practical. Also, why the hell would girls have shinier trousers than boys? Ludicrous.

OP, if you're still making your list I'd add 'Hygiene' as a hint towards the thrush. Then if anyone asks you can say lots of girls are prone to it and make them uncomfortable.
I got it loads in school and we weren't allowed trousers. I can't believe gym knickers are still a thing. Such pervy items.

Just wanted to say good luck OP. I suspect dd will want to wear trousers when she starts school. Thankfully the school her older brother is at allows both sexes to wear pretty much anything if it's in the school colours and practical.

It's not dd's job to look 'sweet', she needs practical warm clothes that let her get on with learning. And I'm sure will look adorable anyway just like all the current Reception kids.

Mind you lots of boys up to the age of around 11 are forced to wear shorts all winter long (at private schools). Must be freezing. At least the girls can wear tights.

Again - all to do with parents and school wanting the children to look "traditional private school".

I attended a secondary school where girls had to wear a gym skirt even in winter while the boys wore track suit bottoms!
I don't know how they get away with it tbh!

Bloomers are traditional. Let them wear bloomers.

Shocking how many people seem to support the importance of "tradition" trumping equality!

We were finally allowed to wear trousers in winter (only) over 88/89. I refused to change back to skirts once spring arrived. Teachers were always telling me off but I wouldn't budge, I was already being bullied to shreds for having hairy legs and needed to find a way to minimise that.

I will even check PE kit requirements when I'm choosing senior schools for PE. She is not going to be forced to wear PE knickers / skirts. I hope they don't exist by the time she's a teenager.

I wouldn't want my DD's to go a school with such outdated sexist policies

I'd like to see this one fought out in court, if you have the energy to do it. Most women wear trousers as everyday wear, so you may just win it.

NB at our state primary 3 girls were expelled because due to their religion their parents wouldn't permit them to wear the school logo on their school top (strict Muslims, not allowed to have any picture or design on their clothing). The school would not allow them to wear the top without the logo. Nice tolerant Church of England school showing its true colours.

I fought long and hard on this issue at my dd's last school - and got nowhere.

Most of the parents were against it, reasons given: "tradition" and my personal favourite "the girls look so sweet in their pinafores."

I had to stop campaigning because dd was getting uncomfortable.

Please fight these sexist dinosaur hideous monsters.