Skirts vs trousers

[Wantapotnoodle]

My daughter is 14, doesn't like makeup or doing her hair, and basically only wears clothes from the boys section, including her school uniform. I've had no issue with how she chooses to present herself and allowed her to dress masculine, however we're moving soon and the closest school in the area doesn't offer a trouser option.

I know she is uncomfortable wearing skirts and so I'm not sure what to do. It's an all girls school so no option to just get the boys uniform either.

Really? In 2025??? That’s staggering!

Whats your question? Or are you just sharing that some schools haven’t quite kept up with the times?!

Generally just sharing, but open to any suggestions. Thinking of emailing the school and asking if DD could wear trousers but worried about getting told no or being seen as rude

If it's a deal breaker then choose a further away school.
Not liking makeup or doing your hair is perfectly normal for 14.

Don’t ask don’t get. So you may as well. You can do it politely “I just wanted to double check that girls aren’t allowed to wear trousers at St Backwards’s”.

I’m outraged - no school should have a skirt only uniform in this day and age. My niece had a similar issue at a small private school she attended and my sister spoke to them about it and they agreed she could wear trousers. Speak to the school, if they refuse then surely they are breaching some sort of discrimination rules?

Most of the supermarkets do girls shorts or culottes if there is a compromise to be reached. I am surprised that they don't allow trousers at all though, that's bonkers.

Wow yes as others say, I am staggered.

What about girls who want to or need to wear trousers for religious reasons? Surely it is not acceptable? Tho thinking about it the private girls school near me has a uniform of a kilt. Not sure what Muslim girls do there tbh.

I would challenge it – there could be all kinds of legitimate reasons why a girl might want to wear trousers.

Email them and say that the web site doesn't say what colour trousers are an option. Ask if it's grey black or navy.

Have your dd write the email and if they say no, discuss the options (skirt or different school). As it stands the school's dress code is a skirt.
Is she aware of this and what is her take on the situation (is it a deal breaker)?

You could try getting into a long conversation about how clothes don’t have a gender

My daughter won't wear skirts. Says then she can't do cartwheels - fair enough!

I'm bewildered that this exists but I would guess this is just one example of many other problematic gendered educational offerings from this school so it might not be a good fit for other reasons too.

Please just ask the school. It’s not rude. If they say no, then discuss it further with them. My daughter wears pants daily to her school.

I'd think carefully about whether the skirt is symptomatic of the school's culture, and, if it is, whether this is the right school for your daughter.

Yes, I would do something similar to this @Wantapotnoodle Email with the premise that they DO accept trousers.

I'd go for a different school if there are ingrained cultures that don't match your daughters needs. It sounds like the closest school might not be the best one (it might not have spaces anyway, at which point the conversation is irrelevant!).

Even if there are no boys at the school they should still offer a trouser option. The girls schools round here do. It is still something a boy in the local area wouldn't have to wear. I would contact the school to talk it over and if that doesn't work complain.