Headteacher backtracks after calling for 'gender neutral' uniform

[hellooooooomama]

He was going to ban skirts.

Parental feedback was not sought initially, but they've had plenty of it since the change was announced!

My opinion. Police the children effectively if they're not wearing it properly. Don't punish the girls who are following the rules.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9915zgvjk4o?at_link_id=743ED69C-41D3-11F0-AA25-C9355B601FDF&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_origin=BBC_Essex&at_link_type=web_link&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_medium=social&at_format=image&at_campaign_type=owned&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwKuxqJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHk6aensTQMd06TSswic5MxNQHZ2Ru4bMWTwlqBl_l3XOBjgDph5zvELMd7g9_aem_wrAH7AjLCJqPj7Nn6TwJcg

In a statement, Honywood School said it took the concerns of families seriously.
"It is disappointing that we have not been given time to respond in our normal community-minded way and that families feel this is a matter that needs reporting in the media," said the statement.
"We only wish families were more passionate and vocal about the real challenges schools are facing currently."
The school said it would work to achieve a "mutually accepted solution" and said the media was "not the appropriate platform" to address the issue.

If only the Flippin school were more interested in the real challenges facing schools instead of spending their time virtue signalling and destroying girls rights.
Im thrilled the families were passionate and vocal enough to report to Media.

"Over time, we have unfortunately experienced persistent issues with school skirts being worn incorrectly."
??????? How do you wear a skirt incorrectly?
Sick of Teachers and Education Authorities bending over for TRAs.

Agreed! Open and transparent communications are obviously not his strong point!

How do you wear a skirt incorrectly?

I'm guessing by rolling the waistband over and over to make the skirt shorter and shorter 😆as has been done by pretty much every generation of girls since school uniforms were invented. It's been an "ongoing challenge" (his words) since the dawn of time, what a sheltered life he must have led!

By rolling the waistband over several times so that the skirt is short enough to show your knickers I’d assume.

My DS attends this school. Lots of parents are livid but most are bemused. The girls are already allowed to wear trousers if they want to and skirts must be worn with thick black tights.

Also, the shorts they require (tailored, knee length) aren’t easily available in supermarkets where most get their uniform. The uniform shop handily sells them at £16.75 (I think) for girls and £13 for boys.

Interesting to note they have a higher than average proportion of SEND pupils at this school.

How do you wear a skirt incorrectly?

Usually by rolling the waistband over and over until it's so short that your knickers are on display. That's what we did at my school in the 80s and still seems to happen now.

It's not really about the uniform itself, but that every effort to make teenagers focus on their education rather than maximising their sexual attractiveness to potential partners is always thwarted. Tackling it with stricter and stricter uniform regulations won't work

skirts must be worn with thick black tights

This is a horrible rule. There is nothing wrong with legs that means they need to be covered at all times. It forges a body shaming attitude.

Sorry I'm not getting why trousers for all is a problem? In my last job everyone had to wear trousers because skirts were impractical. It wasn't a big deal.

I think it's a mistake to badge it as 'gender neutral', but it's a reasonable uniform requirement imo.

You can’t wear what you want at schools with uniforms because you there is a uniform. I don’t have an issue with a uniform that stipulates trousers for both boys and girls as it is a uniform, not a free choice of clothing. There may be nothing wrong with a floor length ballgown, or jeans, or crop tops but they are not the uniform.

Another one who doesn’t get the issue with skirts not being an option here. Nothing wrong at all with shorts and trousers as a uniform. The school girls walking past my house have their skirts rolled up so short it’s laughable - there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s not appropriate dress for school or work, and I’d be sent home from the office for wearing a skirt that short.

Interestingly, our last few intakes of grads have really taken our dress down policy to the limits with backless tops and wearing hoodies with the hoods up to client calls. I’m sure lockdowns played a role in this but I do wonder if the ever loosening of school uniform rules has not prepared them well for the workplace. Again, nothing wrong with the clothes - just not for an office. Like another person said, a ball gown is great but not for a client meeting.

That's a classic example of a backpedal in the face of people wanting to keep their oppression. We wanted trousers in the 80s FFS. Wake up, women.

The trouble with school trousers is that they can be unflattering for girls starting to develop hips and a female body shape. They pull over the bum and hips and some girls can feel self conscious. This is likely worse with cheaper supermarket trousers if made with less fabric.

Girls can be very sensitive to their body changing, particularly if they are bigger / more curvy than others or develop earlier.
Skirts can also be more comfortable if you have your period. You can wear big pants and pads or period pants without a line showing on your trousers.
It's so important for girls to feel comfortable so that they can focus on learning.

Yes there will always be skirt rolling but that is for the school to address. There is so much victim blaming on newspaper comments. We need to get our boys under control (I have 2 DS).

Lots of schools solve this by making the skirt option a hideous kilt that the girls wouldn’t be seen dead in.

My school has very few girls past Y8 that opt for the skirt.

Agree with the head that the parents should have tackled this with the school through diplomatic means rather than rushing straight for the Daily Mail sad face option. Bellends who have caused unnecessary bad feeling and a huge load of extra work for the school.

Dd got told off a few times for her skirt, and socks strangely 🤔

she moved to very tight non uniform trousers and no one said boo…because some boys were also in very tight non uniform trousers

In my day things were different, early to mid 70s. We wanted our skirts mid calf and got told off if they were too long!

davros

in the late 80’s it was all calf length pencil skirts (which i looked awesome in) or mini skirts (which i also looked awesome in)

Some girls prefer to wear skirts. One of my dd's does, my other one prefers trousers. They have the option though. As it should be imo.

I have never in my life felt more comfortable in a skirt when on my period. And wearing a skirt is better if you're self-conscious about your body? Again not my experience, but each to their own.

Oh fgs 🙄. It's about personal preference.

Well not completely, as it's a uniform.

Trousers are more practical and so I think it's entirely reasonable to stipulate that both sexes wear them as part of a uniform.

@LostMySocks I agree. It's easier to hide under a skirt if you're self conscious, and also easier to prevent potential leakage onto clothing, for girls who are just getting used to handling their period.

One of the male caretakers at a girls' school I worked at said it was really difficult going into year 7 and 8 classrooms in breaks and I could see what he meant. Many of the girls rolled up their skirts and then sat, like children do, cross-legged on the floor or on desks unaware of how much of their bodies they were actually showing. He just felt very awkward and concerned about potentially being accused of perving. Now I get that loads of women are going to say boo hoo poor man tough shit, but I rated him as one of the good guys.

Edit for epic word fail!

I completely agree with you.

Yes, but the difference is that back in the day the adults acted like adults - your mum or a teacher would tell you to roll your skirt back down and you did. Because the adults knew that it’s not “empowering” etc for a teen girl to have her skirt so short her underwear (clue’s in the name) was showing and she spent all her time clutching at the back of her skirt, and the only people who benefit from girls doing this are creeps and perverts.