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

Maybe DD is a complete weirdo but she much prefers wearing trousers when she has her period.

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.

@AnnoyedByAlfieBear do you know if anyone has compared the two to see if there's any difference in the shorts?

Quite simply, rolling skirts shouldn't be an option.

If a minimum knee length rule were put in place, it would take anyone much time to pick out the ones taking the piss. And they should be reprimanded quickly and efficiently as they would for any other rule infringement.

The answer to that is no school uniform. Would personally I would be completely on board with but I know the very idea sends most British parents into a fit of the vapours.

Uniform is not about choice or comfort or being flattering or self expression. I also never understand why all of this is apparently an issue for girls when it isn’t for boys.

Reprimanded nowadays means they roll the skirt down, and then up again at their next lesson or they are given a detention they don't turn up to or they are sent home to change and miss even more of their education. Then the whole cycle repeats a couple of weeks later.

That’s their own stupid fault then and their parents should make that clear to them. Just wear the damn uniform properly.

Taking everything else aside why is their uniform shop indirectly discriminating against the girls?

If the uniform is 'gender neutral' and the ethos is to treat girls and boys equally, why are the girls supposed to pay a premium for this equality?!

It seems a little bizarre to be going full on 'we shouldn't have any differences' but to then charge the girls more for an item of clothing thats supposed to be the same.

Ultimately when it comes down to it, they can tell the difference between girls and boys because they still have different designs for different body shapes and its still the girls who come out most unfavourably. Funny that.

I bet that sales of girls uniform are higher than boys too.

My school went the other way 2 years ago - from trousers for all to girls wearing skirts. And I'm tired of constantly seeing and telling girls to roll down their skirts. It's not body shaming, it just looks AWFUL, the pleats are all gone, the skirts are different lengths at the front and back, it looks unprofessional and inappropriate. I completely agree with Honywood's head, good on him.

I agree. If you got rid of the uniform I bet nearly all the girls would turn up in jeans or other trousers.

Other countries seem to manage pretty well without shirts, ties, blazers, regulation skirts etc all of which are ripe for a bit of rebellion. Just have a dress code and then get on with the serious bits of education.

Mysoginist piece of shit. Of course they can't be banned. Sack him and ban him for his hatred of women.

That's why I said efficiently. What you describe is not efficient.

Not yet as the change doesn’t come in til September (if it goes through) but the website stated that the boys shorts are Bermuda style (and slightly shorter) and the girls are tailored to the knee.

My dn’s school just had school colours.
The pupils wore smart clothes in the correct colours. By far the best option imo.

Let them roll them, what's rhe big deal.
Stop policing the length of girls skirts or indeed girls skirts.

The school has an autism hub.

Any suggestions? Ones that will work in situations where a Head just wants a quiet life attending meetings with other 'important people'; where there are parents who will always back their child over the school; where teachers have far bigger behavioural problems to deal with than skirt length?

And now we want children not sexualised if they are in short skirts - something children have always done.

Why the does the length matter, they are children and can wear it any length.

I don’t know. Having the tights really frees up movement for the girls- jumping and running and cartwheels and handstands and all kinds of silly play can be done while decently covered. I quite like skirts myself but I love girls being able to move. No issue with the tights.

I think they should be left alone. And may be then they ll wear them longer. Once you stop making a big deal out of it

He should be banned though from working with children for this idea.

Maybe the bigger behavioural problems would be fewer if they dealt with the minor ones efficiently? Just a thought.

If it's not possible to adequately discipline children for breaking school rules, then either you're not doing it right, or the system needs changing.

Our school has recently gone down the hideous kilt route. Many parents complained when it was adopted, swore their girls would not be wearing them. They are nearly all wearing them and have still managed to roll them up to arse revealing heights.

I think you should report him for his mysoginist views and find another school.

When Mary Quant first designed the mini skirt, I don't think her intention was for children to wear them.

What do you think happens when teachers (particularly male) teachers tell off girls for rolling their skirts up or for their skirt being too short?