Secondary school - shorts

[GollyJollyHolly]

My son's school council had proposed to the headteacher that in the summer the boys are allowed to wear (smart, school) shorts. This has been turned down as apparently shorts are "ungentlemanly". Have anyone's sons had better luck in persuading schools that shorts are ok and if so, how did they manage to get it done? Thank you!

I was thinking about this. DD starts this year and uniform is either skirts or trousers (a Girl’s school). She would prefer shorts, as would her non-binary friend. Seems odd they can’t wear shorts and I’m wondering if it’s been challenged.

I'm currently challenging this at the moment with my sons secondary school! I have said the girls can wear skirts or trousers so why can't the boys wear shorts!

The boys wore skirts until the head gave in.

See this really annoys me (not you op) a local school has agreed to shorts to accommodate a non binary pupil but for years boys have asked for shorts and it hasn't been allowed.

And the ungentlemanly would annoy me even more, I would want to know why, and why the school was so keen to inform gender stereotypes.

I was in a shop the other day which is next door to a secondary school. I spotted the deputy head in the shop. She was wearing shorts, a sleeveless blouse and sandels. I know she was at school that day because she also had her staff lanyard on.
On leaving the shop I then saw a bunch of pupils come out of the school - I assume from a GCSE exam. All wearing blazers, ties, heavy school shoes etc.
Ridiculous.
@GollyJollyHolly what would the school do if every single pupil (boys and girls) turned up in shorts? Close the school for the day?
Maybe try a petition for both the pupils and parents plus anyone else who wants to sign it. Go to the local paper and ask if they will print details about the petition.
Good luck.

Guys in a local school wore skirts to school until the board of management agreed to change the rules to allow them to wear shorts 🤣 teachers were in summery clothes and students were expected to boil in the heat

Our school allows them to wear p-e kit on days they have pe or any sports activity. DS managed to wear his every day and no one has twigged.

Could you ask school as a compromise they can wear pe kits on v hot days?

I think it’s barmy and they’d lose on equality grounds it pursued, but could result in trousers for all

Also (can you tell it annoys me!) This rigid school uniform no longer reflects the reality of working life.

My son is at college and has goe in shorts. It won't affect his learning at all! I work in an office full of men and they always wear shorts in hot weather.

Is it a boys only school?

Campaign for the girls to wear shorts, too.

Watching all the girls and boys skipping to our local uniform-free primary in their cotton shorts.

Thanks everyone. It's a mixed state comprehensive and I'm surprised this hasn't come up before.
The ungentlemanly thing annoyed me too. Although this is she same headteacher who recently did an assembly about how Japanese people are always tidy and pick up their litter so I already have concerns re stereotypes tbh!!

Ungentlemanly? Then why to pish prep schools insist on them?!?

Oh and they did do PE kits on PE days during lockdown but this lead to a general decline in uniform standards apparently so they binned it.
Also agree the comments around work wear - I work for a big professional organisation and men wearing shorts is commonplace now

I think shorts should be allowed for all! My DD wears shorts in the summer. She's in primary ATM, and I hadn't actually considered the possibility that when she moves up to secondary, while she may be able to wear trousers this wouldn't extend to shorts!

Quite! Our prep school has shorts as summer uniform and everyone wears them. Some of the Yr 8 boys are huge and still look very smart in their shorts!

Ridiculous. DD at a what I would describe as a strict uniform policed school.

Girls can wear a certain style grey pinafore dress, grey skirt, grey trousers or grey shorts. They can also wear gingham style dresses during summer or the gingham jumpsuits. I was impressed the Head even sent an email a couple of years ago advertising the jumpsuits saying they would be great for girls and could be bought from Tesco and updated the uniform policy. The boys are allowed grey trousers or grey shorts during winter or summer. Everyone wears plain white polo plus a branded jumper or cardigan. Girls can wear skirts/skorts/or shorts for PE as long as it’s black plus plain white t shirt.

Its a great flexible policy which apart from the cardigan/jumper can be purchased reasonably. They surveyed parents about it and regularly hold second hand uniform sales. Unsurprisingly, good adherence to policy and all the children look very smart.

I dont see what's wrong with school shorts they look perfectly smart. Next do girls school shorts too which look smart.

Why not just have a list of items amd have the kids pick which one they want to wear. Shorts skirts trousers etc

This roasting in blazers and ties and jumpers is nonsense. Rules fir the sake if having rules.

I'd suggest appealing to the school governors, and perhaps in making the case, observe it is cheaper than fans etc. Accompany it with an average temperature graph.

It should be uniform shorts as an option for both boys and girls in my opinion.

I've noticed a lot more girls at the local secondary wearing trousers this week... probably to get away from the kilt and tights which must be sweltering!

Why just for the boys?

The main reason I said about boys is just that I only have a DS at the school and so don't know about whether girls are allowed (or if they've asked!) - presumably they would at least be given a different reason than it being ungentlemanly!

I think possibly a polite email enquiring why shorts are not allowed (for either boys or girls) and saying that I'm sure my son has misunderstood about the ungentlemanly point.

Our school allows PE kits to be worn if the temp
is over 25. They send a message that it's a hot day so students can wear PE kits if they'd like.

Are school shorts made in sizes over age 12ish? Or is it a catch 22 situation where schools don't allow shorts so manufacturers don't sell them?

@PeekAtYou

Ebay and Amazon sell them up to adult.

My youngest is in year 11 so won't be wearing uniform after next week but that might be of use to somebody else.