Schoolgirls say they were ‘humiliated’ over the enforcement of uniform policy at a Merseyside school.
Girls were forced to attend Rainford High School in St. Helens separately from boys, and their skirt length was checked by male teachers, they claim.
Hundreds of students protested the imposition of rules that have brought some students to tears.
The school has not directly commented on the inspections, but said it has a “clear policy” on uniforms.
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition against the policy, with some calling it “outdated” and “ridiculous.”
Tony, a parent who has complained about his daughter’s treatment, said: “When the students came back after term they lined the girls up and examined their skirts and told them ‘Yours fits, yours doesn’t.’
“It was humiliating. My daughter was so upset about it.”
The protests came after a letter was sent to parents in October in which the school said it had seen a “majority” of students wearing skirts “well north of knee length”.
Tony added his daughter was jailed for taking part in Wednesday’s protest.
He said: “I am so proud of my daughter for standing up for her beliefs. It’s appalling how it’s being handled.”
Videos shared on TikTok show what has been described as a “protest” at the school, with large groups of students gathering in corridors and male students wearing skirts over their uniforms.
The letter to parents argues that skirts must meet standards to allow students to focus on work “without worrying that skirt length will make activities like sitting down overly precarious.”
It added that students who fail to meet the uniform guidelines “face challenges and potential sanctions.”
Sixth grade Rainford student Summer, who attended the protest on Wednesday, said: “It’s upsetting [the teachers] think we’re protesting the rule, [but] We protest against how it is being implemented – separating girls from boys. It’s humiliating and the girls leave the class crying.
“There is a minority that takes it to the extreme and wears skirts that are too short. But they brand everyone the same.”
Headmaster Ian Young said that like many schools we “have a clear one-size-fits-all policy”.
“[We] understand that there are often sensitivities in this matter,” he said.
“Student voice is important in all aspects of school life and we were keen to find an acceptable viewpoint on the uniform from all members of our school community.
“The work with our young people has been and continues to be done by consulting with student leadership teams to find an acceptable solution for staff and students.”
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