Guiseley school bans 'indecent' skirts (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Trousers-only rule introduced at Guiseley school

7:40am Thursday 21st July 2011 in Guiseley By Annette McIntyre

Skirts are being banned at a secondary school because girls are wearing them at “indecent” lengths.

With ever shorter skirts becoming fashionable, Guiseley School has already warned that youngsters are placing themselves in “undignified situations” – and now girls will be forced to wear trousers after the majority of them continued to flout the rules.

Parents have been told trousers will be the preferred option from September and will be obligatory from January next year.

The ban is one of just a handful imposed at schools around the country – including Bingley Grammar and St Aiden’s in Harrogate.

The school has resorted to Draconian action after two years of “increasing issues.”

In a letter to parents, head teacher Paul Morrissey said: “There are too many arguments with girls and their parents and teachers about correct skirt length. This causes confrontation at home and at school.

“External drivers are very powerful. Examples include media images of women being increasingly sexualised and retailers selling inappropriate clothes for young girls. The expectation is now that skirts and dresses have to be short to be fashionable and desirable.”

He told parents that skirts were creating a climate too focussed on outward appearance and too little focussed on teaching and learning.

• Read more in Thursday’s T&A