A furious West Country mum has slammed her son's school's 'sexist' uniform policy which bans shorts but not skirts in hot weather.
Mandy Drew's son Leo, who attends Tor Bridge High, joined his classmates to stage a 'peaceful protest' against the controversial uniform rules, but was then suspended for being disruptive, reports Plymouth Live. His mum has branded teachers hypocrites for protesting for causes they believe in but putting her 14-year-old son in isolation for his 'peaceful' demo.
His mum Mandy, aged 32, is now concerned about her son's welfare during the hot weather and doesn't agree that other pupils can wear skirts to keep cool, but shorts are not allowed.
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The school has confirmed its uniform policy 'is not restricted by gender' and 'acceptable items of clothing, including skirts and trousers, can be worn by any of our students'.
Mandy, a taxi driver, said: "I feel strongly in support of Leo regarding this as it is him who has to sit in those hot classrooms all day whilst many female pupils around him are allowed to wear skirts. We are in 2023, we are a modern-day society and I think adding shorts as an acceptable uniform item for both genders is far overdue.
"I also feel strongly that school is in place for learning and when children are hot and bothered, their capacity to learn and stay attentive is impeded. I am very much looking forward to hopefully a change in policy. The school policy is sexist in this very hot weather."
On the Tor Bridge High website, it says the school "expects all students to be ‘business’ smart in a white shirt, black trousers/skirt, black footwear, black jacket and small school tie (Tenzing, Austen or Faraday)." It continues: "Please do not allow your child to buy a shorter than above knee-length skirt (no stretchy materials to be worn)."
The group of Year 9 students staged the shorts protest last Thursday (June 22) and Leo was put into isolation as a result of "persistent disruptive behaviour" and "refusal to comply with instructions". In a voice recording of an interaction with a teacher, Leo is clearly told he would be "allowed to wear a skirt in line with [the school's] uniform policy".
Mandy said: "They rang me to tell me my son was suspended and I needed to collect him, I stated that I supported his protest and I would remain in communication with him. He was allowed to just wander the school for the rest of the day, in shorts, he was even invited into his last lesson by the teacher which he went to. I received an email regarding the suspension which stated he was suspended due to 'persistent disruptive behaviour' and 'refusal to comply with instructions'. Of course, he refused as it is his human right to peacefully protest against something he believes in.
"The school said he was disrupting the school day, but he would have happily gone about his lessons in shorts as that was his stance to wear an abstract item of clothing that was not allowed. I told the school they were actually the ones disrupting my son's day and education by isolating him and then suspending him.
"I think the boys are now planning a day to go in wearing skirts."
She added: "The parents' attitudes seem to be that it's okay for the teachers to strike for what they believe in, but the children should be seen and not heard, which is a very old-fashioned and unacceptable approach. Even the House of Commons has introduced a more relaxed dress code."
A spokesperson for Tor Bridge High said: “Shorts are not currently included in our school uniform policy. We are considering future changes to the policy to add shorts as an acceptable uniform item, but this needs to be consulted on with all our stakeholders and be approved by our governing body so it will take time.
“We encourage students to share their views with appropriate members of staff rather than refusing to comply with existing school policy.
“Our uniform policy is not restricted by gender and acceptable items of clothing, including skirts and trousers, can be worn by any of our students.”
