Parents have been left furious after school pupils were told their trousers were 'too tight'.
Students at Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom were reportedly hauled into an emergency assembly over the new uniform policy.. The school's website states that trousers should be plain black and tailored, suit style, bootcut, pleated or straight design. It also says they should not be tight fit, lycra, jersey, stretch trousers, chinos, leggings.
But parents say they bought the trousers from an official uniform supplier, including one dad-of-two, who has two daughters aged 11, and 13 at the school.
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Speaking to the M.E.N, he said: "We went to an official uniform supplier in Ramsbottom and bought two pairs of trousers for our daughters. They went to school on Monday and we were told that the trousers are inappropriate because they are too tight.
"Lads were wearing skin tight trousers but weren't pulled. They told my daughters they were going to get a detention if they didn't come back with different trousers.
"My youngest daughter was already terrified of starting high school and now she's petrified to go back."
Another concerned parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "It’s caused a lot of upset. This is mostly Year 7’s trying to follow the rules. They are all excited to be there and then they were told they were in the wrong uniform.
"The trousers are slim fitting and they don’t have other options. It has been upsetting for a lot of them because it was their first day a secondary school. Parents were told they had until Wednesday to get the correct trousers.
"There were 80 students sent into isolation that we know about. A lot of parents feel they are just being picked on. Some have bought four pairs of trousers which may now have to be binned.
"This is too much. It is very important that the students maintain self esteem. It is unnecessary. This is just a really awful way to start the new year."
Dozens of fuming parents have also taken to social media to vent their anger over the move, which has been branded "disgusting." One parent wrote: " So after two days of my youngest daughter’s trousers being deemed perfectly acceptable, today they weren’t.
"She was hauled into the emergency trouser assembly. Apparently year 7 pupils were crying as they were so anxious. Am disgusted by the school and feel I let my daughters down by sending them to this absolute joke of an organisation. Sad state of affairs."
Another said: "Masses of girls being threatened with isolation and asked to lift their shirts up to check they have the correct trousers on. Being told that if their trousers are too tight they are putting off the male student.
"That’s the reason they stopped the skirts. Forty pupils filled the hall after being pulled by teachers at the reception in one day. All rather sad really. Like children haven’t had a bad time of it with Covid, mental health issues relating to that."
Another parent wrote: "A mass of girls being sent to the hall to discuss trousers that had been purchased by their parents from a uniform supplier. Is this the fault of the Trust/School system or society. Also, I’d like the school to concentrate on their education/wellbeing please because my teen is in her GCSE year."
A spokesperson for Woodhey School said: "The school has been unwaveringly clear about the expectations for uniform and have communicated this to students and their families prior to the summer holidays, and during the holidays. Where uniform issues have yet to be resolved, the relevant students were spoken to yesterday to reinforce the importance of following the school’s dress code.
"At no point were students threatened with exclusion and the claim that students were told that certain clothing items were distracting to other students is unfounded and was by no means mentioned by the school.
"Where students were informed that their uniform is inappropriate, such as for being too tight, this is in relation to the school’s new stronger enforcement of their uniform rule. These rules directly correlate to fostering high standards of behaviour and expectations, with the school’s dress code further preparing students for the world of work.
"Ultimately this has a positive impact on students’ learning experience and improves their life chances. A description of appropriate uniform items has been circulated to parents and carers and is published on the school’s website.
"School leaders have worked closely with local uniform suppliers to ensure these styles are available for students and, by doing so, reduced the risk of those facing hardship being singled out at the start of the new academic year.
"The new Headteacher is keen to work in partnership with parents and carers, who are encouraged to contact the school directly to raise any concerns, and any complaints will be addressed in line with the school’s Complaints Policy and Procedure. Leaders are keen to continue to listen to parents and carers to continue working in partnership."
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