School insists skirt is too short

[yesterdaystotalsteps123]

Dd doesn't like wearing trousers and has been told her skirt from Y6 that still fits her is too short. Fair enough I ordered a sensible one from Amazon, it is just above her knees and school are still saying it's too short! Wtf?? How can I address this?

I would follow the dress code and buy a skirt that finishes below the knee.

How can girls run or walk if their skirt is actually over their knee?

I do actually agree with you that the school is being ridiculous OP, but this comment made me a bit WTF. You do realise that women wore skirts that went over their knees for centuries without being prevented from walking? As for coping with running, have a look at the attached.

Why didn’t you get her an a line skirt or one with kick pleats from a local uniform shop?

We don’t enforce uniform in Scottish state schools (We just have a recommended dress code) and we have none of these problems

Goodness, how sensible. The amount of teaching time some English schools waste on enforcing the minutiae of uniform rules is utterly ridiculous. In some schools they seem to use this as a substitute for anything more challenging like good teaching.

My ds’ school does enforce school uniform in Scotland and they must wear a rank polyester blazer (super uncomfortable and sweaty) and a tie. They all wear their tie hanging down though and the girls almost universally wear tiny skirts and sheer black tights.

The skirt is too short as it is above the length that they specify in the school policy. Could you perhaps let a hem down? Were you aware of the school policy when you bought these skirts?

We don’t enforce uniform in Scottish state schools

Don't "we"? I see so many people posting on behalf of the whole of Scotland ie in Scotland we do this and in Scotland we do that. No. In your part of Scotland, your specific school/health board/council etc it's done a certain way. That doesn't mean the whole of Scotland do it that way.

My DD’s school has the same policy. I don’t see an issue with it. Your DD’s skirt is obviously too short. And don’t try to make this about feminism.
And how can you address it?
Buy her a skirt that finishes on or just under the knee. Sorted.

I’m really torn with these sort of things.

On the one hand, it looks much smarter if everyone wears uniform of a similar shape and style, so I don’t think it is unreasonable for schools to want those wearing skirts to wear ones of similar lengths.

However, practically this does put girls at a unique disadvantage from boys due to the availability of suitable clothing. Boys’ bodies tend to have just 2 points of variation; height and waist size. This makes it quite easy to find suitable clothing. Girls’ bodies by this age tend to vary in height, waist size AND hip/bum size. This effectively rules out comfortable trousers for many, unless you can afford to have them tailored. Skirts still tend to be sold by age with only 1 or 2 options for waist/hip size. I am resigned to the fact I’ll have to make it tailor 10 yo DD‘s skirts or trousers when she moves to secondary next year as she’s very tall, very high waisted with an unbelievably tiny waist but quite developed hips. She lives in leggings and is lucky that her primary school let her get away with fleece-lined leggings with a very short a-line skirt over the top, because nothing else off-the-shelf fits.

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.

I’m not missing the OP’s problem because it isn’t a problem. If you order online you try the skirt on at home and if it doesn’t meet the requirements, you send it back. What’s the issue? Sainsbury’s, M&S, John Lewis all offer this service (and plenty more others I’m sure) Even if you buy the skirt in the shop, you can still return it or exchange it.

The uniform code is clear and your daughter’s skirt breaks the code. As a HoY7 - do you really want your relationship with a new school to be all about a uniform disagreement?

I’m not missing the OP’s problem because it isn’t a problem. If you order online you try the skirt on at home and if it doesn’t meet the requirements, you send it back. What’s the issue?

It's an issue because it's a tremendous faff. You order the skirt, it's too short, you order another one and it's the right length but probably too big around the waist. Who can be bothered with all of that? Schools are run by authoritarian busybodies who devise petty rules as a way of making parents' lives difficult.

Give me one good reason for devising a rule that says skirts mustn't be above the knee.

I'm not sure that short-skirt rules are unreasonable. Ours says length must match where your fingers end if you put your arm down at your side. They uphold it as a lot of girls are shuffling in in really tiny skirts. Going upstairs it shows underwear so my kids also have to wear tights. I had no problem with it just as if a young person of either sex was flashing lots of flesh or underwear.

I don't care for school uniforms at all, or for the policing of what people wear, but I also think the school has made the policy and you need to abide by it and it doesn't sound like a hill worth dying on. Returning a parcel is a faff but a lot of things are a faff these days. I don't understand why tights must be a certain colour or the jumper or PE kit must include the school logo, either, but that's the policy and it's the school's right not to say "Oh you ordered puce instead of black tights by mistake, that's fine."

An A-line or pleated skirt would be more comfortable for running if it's allowed.

I much prefer dresses & skirts to trousers. And if the choice is there, why are PP questioning it?

Year 6 is still primary school, isn't it? I think that it's pretty outrageous that your DD's school is sexualising and objectifying her like that.

Yes, you're right, it's seism, and you're right to call them out on it.

I went to school in the late 60s & 70s - the age of the mini-skirt.

Some girl's tunics were so short you could see their pants as they walked. And some teachers also wore mini-skirts (although not so short ) It was just fashion.

@michelle1504

We don’t enforce uniform in Scottish state schools

Don't "we"? I see so many people posting on behalf of the whole of Scotland ie in Scotland we do this and in Scotland we do that. No. In your part of Scotland, your specific school/health board/council etc it's done a certain way. That doesn't mean the whole of Scotland do it that way.

Citzen’s Advice Scotland says the following:

‘As a parent if you do not want your child to wear the school's preferred uniform, your child cannot be disciplined for not wearing it.’

Therefore, I understood it to be policy across the whole of Scotland.

I have taught in three different Local Authorities, have nieces and nephews in two others and friends teaching in a further two LAs - the rules have been the same in all schools.

Apologies for upsetting you with my generalisation, but my experiences led me to believe it was the standard rule across the whole country.

I shall keep my sweeping statements to myself in future....

@TheSockMonster

I’m really torn with these sort of things.

On the one hand, it looks much smarter if everyone wears uniform of a similar shape and style, so I don’t think it is unreasonable for schools to want those wearing skirts to wear ones of similar lengths.

However, practically this does put girls at a unique disadvantage from boys due to the availability of suitable clothing. Boys’ bodies tend to have just 2 points of variation; height and waist size. This makes it quite easy to find suitable clothing. Girls’ bodies by this age tend to vary in height, waist size AND hip/bum size. This effectively rules out comfortable trousers for many, unless you can afford to have them tailored. Skirts still tend to be sold by age with only 1 or 2 options for waist/hip size. I am resigned to the fact I’ll have to make it tailor 10 yo DD‘s skirts or trousers when she moves to secondary next year as she’s very tall, very high waisted with an unbelievably tiny waist but quite developed hips. She lives in leggings and is lucky that her primary school let her get away with fleece-lined leggings with a very short a-line skirt over the top, because nothing else off-the-shelf fits.

I have had some success with trousers by Banner, seem to be able to get waist sizes and different leg lengths.

However I agree with the ordering and returning stuff, costs a fortune in postage costs too. In the end I got some from eBay that thankfully fitted.

A pencil skirt isn’t right for primary school, too grown up. Did it have a slit at the back? You say it is baggy - maybe it just doesn’t fit? A 10 yo in a Short, baggy pencil skirt does sound a bit odd.

There's a dress code. Dd's skirt doesn't meet the code. Irritating, but them's the rules. You'll need to buy new skirts, unfortunately. I don't think there's a feminism case to be made here, unless the uniform skirts are so restrictive as to prevent running and walking - which I doubt.

I don't care for school uniforms at all, or for the policing of what people wear, but I also think the school has made the policy and you need to abide by it and it doesn't sound like a hill worth dying on. Returning a parcel is a faff but a lot of things are a faff these days.
That's how I feel about uniform. I could take it leave it, but don't think it's thay unreasonable to expect students of both sexes to have the similar expectations (eg. No shorts or skirts above the knee).
If the skirt is above the knee and their uniform says knee length or lower then just buy a skirt that fits the uniform. It's really not a hill to die on.

Thing is, I think it is a hill worth dying on. Why? Because it's about sexualising young girls. The only reason for saying girls can't wear a short skirt can be because it makes her look too sexually attractive. And these are 11 year old girls we're talking about.

It might be a small thing in itself, but it's the start of years and years ahead in which the OP's DD will be told that her clothing is either too sexy or not sexy enough.

@Badbanana

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

Her choice, obviously, and it sounds like the school are being petty if they are saying past her knee is too short.

But trousers are infinitely more practical/comfortable. I don’t think any of DD’s friends have ever worn a skirt at school. But then they are all sporty types that like to play football at break time.

Never understood people who say this. Skirts are 100 times more comfortable than trousers in my opinion.

And in terms of practical, joggers or leggings beat both skirts and trousers.

Smart trousers have to be one of the most uncomfortable garments to wear in my opinion!

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

What an odd thing to post.
Of course skirts are more comfortable as there's far less fabric clinging around and a loose fit is much more easily achieved - even more so with dresses. Whether they are practical is another matter but within the school environment - yes most skirts are practical too for most lessons.
So do give over with bashing women who choose to wear skirts.

For the op, it seems the skirt is not within the school rules. The rules are there to facilitate the practicality of wearing skirts throughout the day and for ease of managing adherence.

Ours says length must match where your fingers end if you put your arm down at your side. They uphold it as a lot of girls are shuffling in in really tiny skirts.

Off topic, but this rule doesn't make any sense to me if the aim is to avoid 'tiny skirts'. I have a long torso, so a skirt that just reached my fingertips would barely cover my bum!

@yesterdaystotalsteps123

Policy states "skirts should finish at or below the knee" hers was just above plus she was wearing thick tights. They made her wear trousers tied with hair bobbles from their own uniform supply when she wore her Y6 skirt which is pretty gross, who knows if they've ever been washed. I just don't understand why society starts having an opinion on how females dress from age 11. I'm fuming

So the skirt you bought her doesn't comply with their published dress code. Slam dunk really.