Nailsea School ban girls wearing skirts from September
By Carol_Deacon | Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 21:02
Nailsea School will ban
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Nailsea School insists children wear sensible clothes to concentrate on learning and not fashion fads
girls wearing skirts from September.
Head teacher David New sent a letter
home tonight (Wednesday) telling parents of the governor's decision taken on
Monday night.
He said: "I am writing to let you
know about a modification to the school uniform, which governors have been
considering.
"Nailsea School governors decided to
move to a trousers-only option from September.
"The governors heard representations
from students, staff and parents.
"After a vigorous debate it was
decided by an overwhelming majority that in order to enable all students to
participate fully in learning activities trousers represent a much more
practical option.
"Since September 2009 the school has
been encouraging students to wear the new school uniform appropriately.
"After consistent warnings and clear
indications on the school website about the consequent s of flouting the rules
the school governors have decided that the trousers only uniform for both boys
and girls is the right option."
The successful 1,300-pupil school
decided to review its uniform policy after some youngsters have been wearing
skirts way above the knee.
Prior to the governors meeting Mr
New said: "The skirts issue is about the length girls are wearing them.
"It is with Governors at present and
they are making a decision on Monday but we have taken out references to skirts
from the uniform list in anticipation that the decision will be to lose skirts
as an option.
"Certainly on a national level I
know there are several schools which have already come to this conclusion, for
the same reasons."
The Guardian reported last September
that dozens of schools were considering following the lead of St Aidan's High
in Yorkshire and St Alban's in Suffolk, which banned skirts altogether and
insisted girls wear trousers.
In others schools have sent out
letters to parents saying that the current fashion for wearing school skirts as
short, and as tight, as possible is a real problem in school, and dealing with
the issue is a distraction from teaching.
At Kinross High in Perthshire, some
parents received a stinging note telling them: "The length of your
daughter's skirt is such that she spends a great deal of time pulling it down.
It detracts her attention from the learning process."
In October 2010 Nailsea School
issued a ban on Miss Sexy fashion trousers for being too tight.
This provoked a flurry of stories in
the national newspapers featuring two dissident teenagers.
And in another school versus home
battle on shirt lengths Mr New issued a statement which said: "Parents sign the
home school agreement in which they promise to ensure their children follow the
rules.
"Nailsea School will never apologise
for having high standards in terms of achievement, behaviour or appearance."
Backwell School head teacher John
Baldwin wrote home as the end of the April term about uniform standards.
He said: "As summer approaches, I
would like to remind you of our uniform expectations.
"Girls are allowed to wear plain
black trousers or a skirt, no more than three inches above the knee.
"Tube skirts, leggings and trousers
made from jean-like material are not allowed."
And he warned those who ignore the
rules and come to school wearing the wrong clothes: "We have in stock spare
shoes and sweatshirts to lend to students who consistently ignore the rules."
Nailsea School intends its pupils
keep to a strict uniform policy of black jumper embroidered with the school
logo, black trousers and white shirt and a school tie.
Comments
Dear Sirs, I think Mr. New has gone too far this time in banning his female students from wearing skirts, his decision may in fact be in breach of the female students human rights! Up to about 1980 in nearly all Somerset schools female students were banned from wearing trousers - WHY?, it was considered then that by being female students they MUST wear skirts and tights.
In my opinion Mr. New, if parents WANT their daughters to wear skirt and tights to school, and their daughters are happy to wear skirt and tights to school, then that is THEIR decision, and not yours, not the school govenors and DEFINATELY not mine! There are as we know a tiny minority of female students who are wearing their skirts too short, it is THESE students who should be brought into line, and NOT! punish the entire female students! Female students SHOULD and MUST be allowed to decide when they wake up on a school morning if they want to wear skirt and tights, such as on nice hot dry day, or wear trousers on a cold, damp and wet day, which would protect their legs.
The object of sending ones daughters and sons to school, is to give them the VERY BEST education possible, a school education works BOTH ways!, the
Teacher gives her / his best knowledge to her / his students, the job of the
students is to absorb the knowledge being presented to them, after all the BEST education now, will result in a better future both in getting a place at
University, and / or getting a good job once they have left school! I see NO
problem with female students wearing skirt and tights to school, just as long as they look smart then everyone is happy!
Thank you.
Mike. Horsington.
Wells,
Somerset.
By mike2710 at 11:50 on 10/06/11
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