to be annoyed that there will be a trousers uniform only at dc's secondary school from next year?

[bigbuttons]

DD ( dc number5) starts secondary in September. All her older sibs have gone/ are at the school. Her 2 older sisters are in years 8 and 10. Up until now the uniform has been, for girls, a blazer, skirt or trousers, white shirt and optional tie.
We got an email this week saying that after extensive consultation( I would like to know with whom because parents were not asked to my knowledge) the uniform for new year 7's would be 'gender neutral'. Both sexes will wear exactly the same uniform i.e new school jumper, no blazer, smart grey or black trousers, no skirts and all to wear a tie. Pupils currently at the school can continue with the current uniform but change of they wish.
There has been 'issue' with girls rolling their skirts up to basically just below their backsides and members of the public/parents have been complaining about this. The new trousers only uniform will help with issues of 'decency' it says.
Year 6 dd is horrified, she has never worn trousers in her life and quite frankly is not a good shape for them anyway, - leggings yes, buttoned trousers, no, although I have never said this to her of course. She is short and stocky, always has been.
I know many women who feel very uncomfortable wearing trousers because they don't like their legs/shape and always wear dresses and skirts.

What this this gender neutral crap?
I support both sexes wearing ties and I liked the blazer so am sad it has gone.

I think the girls should be able to wear skirts and am confused about the whole 'indecent' issue. If a girl wears a short skirt it's surely not her fault if people find it 'indecent'? It feels like very little has progressed for girls since I was at school. So, they now all have to look like boys?

I would be interested to hear people's views on this.

If parents had bought uniform items within the rules (skirts that come to the knee, or whatever the rule was before) this wouldn't be happening

You did see all the posts about girls rolling their skirts up...

I completely agree with the point when relating to other items of clothing (except the no socks with tights rule at our school) but not skirts

I know. However the argument on here seems to be all about 'a shift to trousers only reduces choice and that is a BAD THING for girls of different sizes', whereas actually a shift to trousers only but not a single style would vastly increase size and chance of a good fit.

Trousers of the right fit vs 99% of school uniform skirts? In terms of choice, comfort, appearance, flattery to all types of figure, femininity, trousers of the right fit have it every time...

However I agree with you that the choice would be abused by exactly those who abuse the current skirts rules.

I wish Dds school would do this. She very rarely wears skirts at home, only with leggings underneath. She is much more comfortable in trousers but in her school most girls wear skirts which she finds restrictive. She feels she can't do cartwheels, handstands, etc, and is constantly pulling her tights up. She feels she has to wear a skirt to conform though. It's frustrating, particularly when parents of girls further up the school seem to have forgotten that when children grow they need bigger skirts, I have seen some girls in skirts so short and tight (they can't have been rolled as the skirt style is looser at the bottom). I do not want her thinking this is a good look.
I think that we are going to be having some very difficult conversations as she gets older.

You did see all the posts about girls rolling their skirts up...
Kids will always push uniform. I did as a kid and now police uniform as a teacher.

Big difference in my mind between reminding people to roll their skirts down/tuck their shirts in and blatantly buying items intentionally to push the letter of the uniform and let your child turn it into a fashion statement.
The first is kids being kids. The 2nd is parents being too much of a pushover / indulging whines to wear trainers, leggings etc etc.

I saw a TV programme about education in China once and the children (secondary age) all wore uniform tracksuits. At first I was surprised because it certainly didn't look "smart", the thing that many British school seem to want the kids to look, but it was certainly practical, and the tracksuits were loose-fitting for all children, so you couldn't really see anyone's body shape. I thought it was a good idea.

maisy

Absolutely