A school has banned all pupils from wearing skirts with a trousers-only rule for the start of the academic year. Mum-of-four Claire Rigby has launched a petition against the move at Haywood Academy in Burslem after two of her daughters were reportedly threatened with 'seclusion' if they turn up to lessons in skirts.
She says many students are choosing to defy the ban due to 'double standards' as staff and teachers can still wear what they want, reports StokeonTrentLive.
Claire's daughters, Louise Coates, 15, and Charlie Coates, 12, plan to continue to wear skirts despite the risk of being put in isolation. Claire said: "The only option is black tailored trousers and no skirts. It hasn't gone down well with my two daughters.
"There is a group of Year 10 girls that gathered lots of evidence from pupils, ex-pupils and anonymous staff members to show that it's wrong and they don't agree with taking skirts away. They had a meeting with the headteacher which was right before the break up at the end of term. Over the summer there have been numerous parents that have email regarding it and nobody has had anything back."
Claire's petition has more than 100 signatures. She added: "My girls won't wear trousers. My daughter is the biggest tomboy in the world, she plays football and she still doesn't want to wear trousers.
"There are a few pupils who have backed down because they don't want to be put in seclusion. But my daughters don't agree with it.
"They've had the decision taken away. They want to stand up for what they believe in.
"The school aren't telling female teachers that they have to wear trousers. It is just wrong."
StokeonTrentLive approached Haywood Academy for a statement.
