Harrowgate school 'bans skirts'

June 15 2010

A school in Harrowgate has banned girls under the age of 15 from wearing skirts.

Youngsters attending St Aidan's Church of England High School will wear black trousers from September, the Times reports.

Head teacher Dennis Richards said female pupils were "placing themselves at risk" and are "wholly unaware of the signals they are giving out".

"Parents who have come in have been astonished to see the difference between the length their daughter may wear her skirt as she leaves home and what has happened by the time she is walking the corridors of the school," he wrote in a statement on the school's website.

Although the news has been welcomed by some, Margaret Morrissey a spokesperson for the pressure group ParentsOutloud, told the newspaper that skirts of a reasonable length should still have a place in schools.

The Sun reported earlier this year that forcing schoolchildren to wear gender-specific clothing could be unlawful when the Equality Bill comes into force later this year, meaning more girls could have the option of wearing trousers.

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