Do all private schools require girls to wear skirts/dresses?

[mumofCR]

Hi, I'm thinking of sending my daugher to a local private school - with a pretty heavy heart. And when I went to look at it, during that freezing cold snap, realised that all the girls were wearing skirts. They even have to wear skirts over their gymn leggings! I've been informed that skirts are standard in ALL private schools in the UK. Is this true?

I thought this kind of thing disappeared in the 70s? Can't see the logic of demanding this, especially during cold periods. All that faff with tights which make your legs itch. Let alone the inconvenience when running or undertaking any kind of physical activity. The only benefit is for the boys who can spend infinate amounts of time looking up skirts. Or have a missed some great advantage?

But if girls don't wear skirts, how will they learn to exit a car gracefully and demurely?

If they don't learn that, when they grow up to be Tara Pompy Tompyson types and the 'paps' are around when they've been out for a civilised night out at a hip and bone-achingly trendy nightclub they will have photographs of them flashing their knicker region splashed all over the tabloid press.

The whole world will cease to turn on its axis. Life as you know it will never be the same again.

Then you'll all be sorry, mark my words.

happy - agree 100% with you there.

I've never read such a load of reverse-snobbery nonsense. I wish people wouldn't try to stereotype users of independent schools like this. It really does come across as bigoted, nasty prejudice.

I left private school is 2007, they'd have died if someone turned up wearing trousers!!. All girls school too!!

Hqppygardener and others- I only picked up the "lady like" ball because somebody actually said on this thread that girls at private schools wear skirts because they are mor lady like and feminine. Honest, she did- it wasn't my idea! I thought it was funny, which is why I ran with it. Sorry

"! If you send your children to private school you will be expected to buy into the whole philosopy of a private education and smart uniforms are usually part of that philosophy. Skirts are probably considered to be more feminine and more 'ladylike' which is why girls have to wear them"

There. Posted down thread by someone (obviously withoutba sense of irony) called Thebestthingsinlifearefree!

happygardening - I know because my dc were at private school and we (me and dd at her behest) fought a campaign against Empire and the Kilt and Tie.

Interestingly the head said he didn't mind either way and invited me to go ahead (clever man).

The winning comment in the meeting was from one of the senior female teachers:

"Yes, but trousers really are a bit state school, aren't they?"

In fact, my humiliation was utter and complete by the subsequent adoption for the skirt of even the teenies in the nursery, because "they look so sweet"

Surely any focus on producing ladies depends hugely on the school

Say what you like, but let us not pretend that the Kilt is anything other that a Badge of Privilege.

Yes, but trousers really are a bit state school, aren't they?" snort!

On a par with the aforementioned Posh Rich Man's Odd Red Cord Trouser. Or Tryser, as they call them.

I'm really sorry, OP- I do hope you weren't looking for a serious answer'

Every crap school that has a new saviour head parachuted in and a name change has blazers and even kilts these days.

Maybe there'll be a backlash and private schools will start insisting on supermarket trousers and sweatshirts.

My dd goes to a pretty post state school, and they take a great pride in being the scruffiest kids on the block (no blazers or ties and a losing Battle of the Pelmet) and acing their exams!

What matters is what the curriculum offers, the ethos of the school and the results.

If you are happy with the aforementioned and if your daughter is happy at the school and being motivated to achieve to her full potential it matters not a jot what the uniform code is.

My dd has never a attended a school where trousers have been part of the uniform code. We looked at what we liked about the school and the uniform was a side issue. If I have a battle to fight I chose one worth fighting.

Posh not post.

I'm so pleased for you marriedinwhite

"Every crap school that has a new saviour head parachuted in and a name change has blazers and even kilts these days."

Yup ime a state school's performance is inversely correlated to the posh-quotient of its uniform. All the highest achieving schools locally have sweatshirt uniforms - only the shit schools have blazers. Most of the private school schools don't have uniforms in the 6th form whereas the state schools go for 'business smart' which seems to be interpreted as dress like a wannabe estate agent.

None of the 6th forms around here have uniforms, in fact I had never heard of the weird business suit thing until I came on MN.

archit...whatever -wow, generalisations R us!

Blazers = 'shit schools'? Only state schools going business smart in the 6th form?

You need to do a bit more research.

Dd1's school requires girls to wear a skirt, but it does have an Islamic uniform too (which is the normal skirt plus navy trousers worn underneath).

Go for Bedales they let everyone be individual .

I worked with someone who sent her son to a traditional school in a polyester blazer. He was the only person ever to have worn one. She had to buy the wool blazer the same week.

As far as I remember, at school you had to wear your skirt as short as possible, preferably over black tights with holes held together with safety pins. You had to wear DM's too.

My DD has worn trousers throughout Years 2 - 5 until she voluntarily changed to the kilt this year.

Trousers are acceptable in both the junior and senior school but very few of the girls wear them ....

So in answer - no, not ALL private schools insisit on skirts

"Go for Bedales they let everyone be individual ."

If uniform really did restrict a child's individuality or chance to stand out, more schools might insist on them!

I have never yet come across a teenager who feels they are not allowed to be their normal self because of what they wear.