School insists skirt is too short

It is incredibly sexist and at my nieces school, she was told that it "would distract the male teachers"
If you are distracted by a young girl in a skirt, you shouldn't be working in a school.

If it's a policy that shirts are knee length then you need knee length skirts. Otherwise it's impossible to enforce, as who decides how far above the knee is too far. I've taught kids who wear skirts so short they can't bend over or sit down without flashing their knickers, and then accuse staff of being "paedos" when they saying anything. Which has already happened on this thread. Easier to have a clear line on what's acceptable

I think people are missing what the OP's problem is here, which is that you can no longer go into shops and try skirts on, so you have to order them over the internet, which means you can't be guaranteed they'll be absolutely the right size.

At the end of the day who gives a fuck that a girl wears her skirt slightly above the knee? Only a school that spends too much time policing women's clothing and not enough time getting on with the job of education children. IMHO.

Does the skirt have to be a pencil skirt?
If so that does sound a bit restricting, but presumably the other girls manage. if it is a genuine issue the girls should get together and suggest a redesign.
If it doesn't have to be a pencil skirt, I'd get a different design which is easier to walk/run in.

The thing is, you can look smart and still not meet the uniform requirements.

In my book 'just above the knee' and 'at the knee' mean essentially the same thing. OP, is there enough hem on the new skirt to let it down an inch or so, to show willing? Knee length is a very standard school skirt length and what you describe if accurate sounds entirely reasonable .

Properly cut skirts should fit womens shapes much more readily, and are comfortable and easy to wear. By which I mean a line, pleated or flared designs and the like. Straight skirts and the deplorable lack of basic tailoring in womens clothing generally ... Grrr!

Policy states "skirts should finish at or below the knee" hers was just above plus she was wearing thick tights

The skirt doesn't meet the requirements of the school policy then. How is it sexist? Your dd is under no obligation to wear a skirt. She is entitled to wear trousers like the boys, but chooses not to. I understand you don't want to buy another skirt, but the policy is clear - you should have made sure the skirt was the right length. I'm not in favour of school uniform in general tbh,but where there's a policy you can be expected to stick to it.

Sorry , I don't understand this at all, the school has a policy about clothing, you have breached this rule and think you are the victim?
If you think the rule is unfair than you should speak to the school (they would have been put their for a reason, usually for the benefit of the pupils but you can still argue your case) about it or send your DD to a different school.
In the meantime, if you want DD to attend you need to follow the rules. Schools either have a uniform or they don't, they cant change it on the whim of every parent.
Finally cut the sexism rubbish, unless a boy can go in wearing the same outfit and not get told off then you are talking out of your hat.

You have to follow the school rules, I'm afraid. Above the knee is not on or below. Let the hem out as she grows.

Not completely relevant but I was just talking the other day to a woman who went to Rugby, they have ankle length skirts and she said they all genuinely loved them!! (I did notice she was wearing jeans now though.) There was a referendum at Rugby earlier this year whether to scrap the long skirts in favour of trousers or knee length skirts, and it was firmly rejected by the female students because they liked being able to throw the long skirts on straight over their pyjamas. Girls at Oundle like their culottes for similar reasons.

I’d agree there are endless wider discussions about attitudes to ‘appropriate’ clothing for women and girls, and the costs of specialist uniform at specific lengths/embroidery etc required by some schools.

But I don’t necessarily think it’s a feminist issue that the school has pulled you up on breaking the dress code. I would generally advise not becoming ‘that’ parent over something like this.

Strange, I’ve never met any woman/girl who had a complete aversion to wearing trousers?

I will wear jeans, shorts, track-pants - but I hate all other trousers. I once ordered a uniform pair for work, wore them as far as the footpath then went back inside and changed into a skirt. Never wore them again.

Yr 6 and primary boys at my DCs school wear shorts with the length way above the knees and this doesn’t seem to be an issue. Is this the same in your school? At some schools, there seems to be one rule for boys legs and one rule for girls legs. They have to be consistent for all children. Well it's a different item of clothing. Trousers to the ankle, skirts to the knee, shorts mod thigh. But yes, the girls should be in skirts the same length. I assume it's about underwear not knees

It's a tricky one, OP. Lots of schools go down the 'professional attire' school of thought, that says children should be dressing formally for school. There is a nuance to skirt length- above the knee is not automatically unprofessional, but there is a point at which it becomes so. Lots of schools choose knee-height as an easily enforceable and understandable limit. If they didn't use a black and white rule, lots of people would end up arguing the toss.

At the start of the academic year they will be expecting skirts to be on the long side, not already too short to meet the uniform code.
By June/July they might well accept a slightly above knee one, but not in October.

Check the policy, at DD's last school they had to be on the knee or just below (private)

It's also bad for the environment and the pocket to keep having to get new skirts which are longer rather than accept a bit of growth, All those saying get a longer skirt- they are hard to obtain! Standard cheap skirts are not below the knee.

And you no one cares about boys rights because their male and everything goes their way in society and they will never be impressed etc.

But the point is of you sent a son in flashing his underwear they'd presumably pull him up too.

As for whether "just above" the knee is too short or not is subjective and the idea that you'll buy a new skirt every time she grows an inch is ridiculous. Bit it probably is why they don't want girls starting with quite short skirts that will be miniskirts in a few inches of growth spurt.

As for whether it should be socially acceptable for female to go out flashing their knickers and bras with impunity, well that's a bigger arguement.

I'd try and get her one just past her knee so it won't be really short ina few months

I have had this problem with one of my daughter's schools which insists on below knee length which is hard to find if you want the waist size ok, as the vast majority of cheap school skirts in supermarkets are on or above the knee. You can get longer length skirts but they are harder to find and sell out.
It is totally about the policing of women's bodies, my dd doesn't wear trousers as the school ones give a lovely camel toe so she prefers a skirt. We have used the ridiculousness of the school and their insistence on correct PE skorts which show the entire leg, but a knee length skirt, to discuss issues of appearance, feminism and the policing of women's bodies.

Don't bother arguing with the school, the type of school who is fanatical about clothing rarely back down.

If boys are allowed shorts above the knees but girls are not then that’s when the difference comes in. It’s pretty standard to have skirts on the knee or below or trousers with most boys only having the option of trousers. I’m also not sure how a bit longer stops you running unless they are pencil skirts with no stretch - which of course they may be.

Just follow the school dress code. And yes you can run in a full length regular skirt.

I’d just like to clarify I don’t agree with the policy as yes girls knees are not offensive/provocative etc.

But this IS their policy that they are entitled to have and you signed up for when enrolling her at the school.

My dd1 wore trousers or skirt depending on subjects, science days were trouser days. Dd2 never wore trousers to school, she's an engineer and mostly wears trousers to work.
The school specified one style of uniform trousers, I'll fitting trousers can be really uncomfortable.
Skirt length was a battle though.

When school rules like this exist, I always question their purpose, and whether they also apply to teachers.