The Devon secondary school of Tiverton has banned girls from wearing skirts in order to create what is believed to be a “more gender-neutral” uniform policy.

On the 9th of June, parents of Tiverton High School (THS) students have been informed that the update to the school uniform rules would come into effect from September this year.

Except for PE sessions, THS pupils will be expected to ditch their skirts, which are currently allowed, and attend classes wearing only trousers.  

“We will follow other secondary schools in implementing a more gender-neutral uniform policy. […] Parents/carers will be pleased to know that the majority of the uniform will remain as it is, with the exception that from September all students will be expected to wear trousers.” Sammy Crook, the school’s headmistress, announced.

„We never take decisions like this lightly and go through a detailed process over time in order to come to the right conclusions for our students and the school […] This change to uniform policy has the approval of our governors, and balances the demands placed on us in matters including standards of education, parental cost, inclusivity, and student health” – she added.

THS announced that shorts will remain permitted in the summer term, as set out in their existing policy, and will consider individual circumstances in which there might be a “medical or other need” to wear a skirt.

Several parents were upset with the new rules, especially because such a modification of the dress code has been decided without any prior consultation.

Image: Unsplash

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen